There are many different types of blogs in this world. Industry blogs, dating blogs, financial blogs, news blogs, pop culture blogs, mommy blogs… you name it, someone’s writing about it.

But what I consider this place to be, and the type of blog I relate to, are “lifestyle” blogs. People who talk about the interesting things that happen to them; momentous life events, hopes and dreams, funny stories, and the like. And if I had to wager a guess, the vast majority of posts from these blogs involve one little thing we can ALL relate to:

VENTING.

Delightfully exaggerated, unadulterated hatred for the minute, yet uncompromisingly annoying day-ins and day-outs of our lives. The endless atrocities that strangers, traffic, and small children commit against us each and every day. Dare I say, a lot of this very blog revolves around such things; in fact, if you click on my post category “hatred“, there are some 25 posts there alone. While I don’t think this is unusual, as writing is often a therapeutic outlet for frustration, I do sometimes worry that all you guys see of me is the haterade. It’s only natural- we as humans are much more likely to share a bad experience than a good one, because dammit, commiseration feels GOOD, yo. But I don’t want that to be the only side of me shown here.

Truly, I am a lover. I love LOTS of stuff. I love dive bars, wine, red meat, brunch, cats, rollercoasters, cheeseburgers, and- believe it or not- even a sizeable handful of people in this world.

(Sidebar: while we’re on this topic, are you one of those people who says you “love to laugh” in your social media bio? Because ZOMG YOU MUST BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO LIKES THAT! You are so original. I bet you also don’t like having the flu, and that you prefer Fridays to Mondays! Let’s bond over our mutual affinity for being happy rather than sad together!!)

Whoops… a little venting fell out. Moving on!

So, to mix it up, here’s some of the GOOD in my life – those little things that will make me love you, almost as quickly as standing on the left side of the escalator will make me shank you.

What?

Things That Will Make Me Instantly Adore You:

(thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!)

Making a “there’s always money in the banana stand…” reference.

Belting out a song in public, karaoke or impromptu. (Extra points as the song gets more embarrassing.)

Giving your seat on the bus to a lady, a munchkin, someone older, etc.

Being fully aware of, accepting, and openly discussing your flaws (not in a debbie-downer way; just a self aware, “I’m working on this” way).

Admitting when you’re wrong.

Giving me an honest opinion in the dressing room. I am depending on you to set me up for (booty) success, here.

Expressing a love for meat. (Extra points for meat wrapped in other meat.)

YES and also PLEASE.

Not being afraid to cancel our grandiose plans of sight-seeing or museums in favor of getting tipsy and people watching. (Also see: recognizing the inherent value in getting tipsy and people watching).

Showing up at my house with an awesomely bad movie and three bottles of wine… for the two of us.

Openly weeping tearing up at children’s movies. (Up, Wall-E, Toy Story 3, I’m looking at you.)

Getting me a wee present when you go on vacation, just because you wished I was there.

Knowing that women have a right to their bodies, and everyone has a right to get married.

Only judging me a little when I openly mock jeggings for months, and then maybe sort of buy a pair… (only for boots! I swear!)

Tipping the bartender… well.

Not having a ginormous stick up your ass. (This shouldn’t be as hard to find as it is.)

Surrounding yourself with quality people who are funny, welcoming, and also don’t have ginormous sticks up their asses.

Come to think of it, I may just change my Twitter bio to “I totally don’t have a stick up my ass, even if I did hypocritically buy a pair of jeggings.” Thoughts?

Mama said share.

But at least we can do something about it. Show that you stand with Planned Parenthood by adding this hot little orange button to your own site:

Just copy and paste into a sidebar widget:

<center><a href=”https://secure.ppaction.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=pp_ppol_ws_I_Stand_with_PP&s_src=standwithppfeb2011_taf&JServSessionIdr004=o2m95kpjc2.app209b” mce_href=”https://secure.ppaction.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=pp_ppol_ws_I_Stand_with_PP&s_src=standwithppfeb2011_taf&JServSessionIdr004=o2m95kpjc2.app209b” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss5/Livitluvit/I-Stand-with-Planned-Parenthood-1.jpg” mce_src=”http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss5/Livitluvit/I-Stand-with-Planned-Parenthood-1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”I Support Planned Parenthood”></a></center>

And make sure you click through and sign that baby, too! THE GOVERNMENT STOPS AT OUR SKIN, ladies.

Let’s keep it that way.

Mama said share.

UPDATE: We totally changed our plans and made this FREE and therefore even more AWESOME!!! Read the new details HERE.

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My Fellow Interwebby Compatriots:

Some people like to spend their Saturday afternoons at the mall. Some play co-ed sports. Some have elegant brunches and poised conversation.

Then there’s me. Who gets wasted at a divey sports bar with an equally crafty partner in crime, and ends up concocting the most wonderfully ridiculous idea ever over a laptop (don’t drink and type!) and far, far too much beer.

My friends, we give you…

Here’s the pitch: There are many of us who would love to go to one of the Inauguration Balls, but we are relatively poor and without connections. As such, my lovely friends Restaurant Refugee and Katherine of Who Invented Roses and I would like to propose that we throw our own Bloggeration Ball. In fact, it’s not so much a proposition as it is completely happening. We have rented out the top floor Bourbon for the evening of Sunday, January 18th, 2009.

Why Sunday, you ask? Well, my friends, because this is DC, and most of us will be lucky enough have Monday (MLK) and Tuesday (actual Inauguration Day) OFF! Also, partying five nights in a row = funsies! Refugee also had the good sense to point out that this will basically be like the more-fun After Party of an event, only we skip the event and just get down to partying with the people we actually like. Awesome!

The Deets:

Date: Sunday, January 18th, 2009

Time: The ever-classy 9 pm

Location: Bourbon in Adams Morgan (18th and Kalorama, NW)

Cost: A mere $47 via PayPal (I promise, I am a verified member and will not steal your hard-earned dollars). Simply send an email to bloggerationball@gmail.com. List your name, the name of your blog if you have one, and indicate how many tickets you will need. You will get an email with PayPal instructions. Once you have you have paid your money you will be confirmed for the event.

Food: Passed hors d’oeuvres for everyone! (There are rumblings of TATER TOTS… just sayin…)

Booze: Discounted drinks all night (get it? Subsidized?), complimentary champagne toast, and Refugee and I have already started working on signature drinks for the evening.

Dress: Black-tie OPTIONAL. No excuses if you don’t have a tux!

Availability: Space is currently limited to 150 tickets, however if there is greater demand it is possible that the party can grow to 250.

Who’s Coming: Bloggers, readers, lurkers, friends- are all welcome. The only rules are dress for the occasion, be cool, be fabulous, be fun.

All right, hookers, we put it together… now it’s on you!

Mama said share.

I’m going to be completely honest here…

I wasn’t in love with either candidate.

I’m not going to get into the whys and why nots, but let’s just say I saw the positives and negatives of both sides. And yes, some weighed more heavily than others, like the fact that THE GOVERNMENT STOPS AT MY SKIN, and ultimately I went for Obama. I just wasn’t 100% thrilled about it.

Until the results came in.

Until I saw the wonderful, emotional mayhem in Grant Park.

Until I heard Obama’s acceptance speech, and realized that he actually does want to do everything in his power to make things better. The man really believes in himself, and in us. That is incredible.

Until I realized, I am just one of millions who trusts that this man truly has the nation’s best interest at heart. (Foreign concept, I know.)

Until I saw my neighbors rallying at the gates of the White House, rubbing it in Dublya’s face. But, ya know, together.

I may not be completely in LURVE with Obama (as our President, not as a person). I may be unsure that he (or anyone) can handle the mess in front of him. I may still be terrified of the next four years, no matter who’s in charge.

But I am in love with the way our entire nation has come together.

I am in love with the way everyone hopes, and everyone believes. Watching the crowds last night, seeing them cry, hug, sing, and rejoice in the success of a common goal and dream- it was truly amazing.

I am in love with the way that racial tensions in our country have been punctured like a big ass balloon.

I am in love with the fact that the rest of the world will start to take us seriously again.

I am in love with the feeling of a fresh start, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, we are finally on the right track.

And that’s all the politicky-ness, I promise. Back to making fun of myself and TMI Thursday!!! tomorrow.

Oh, and Shannon? This one’s for you.

Happy Birthday, lady.

Mama said share.

I was just thinking we were going to need a drinking game for tonight…

And he was one step ahead of me.

Happy Election Hangover!

Mama said share.