Dubstep

"Honey, are you vacuuming?...

Oh! You're just rocking out to some Skrillex, is that right?"

Don't get me wrong. Dubstep can be extremely fun to dance to if you've had about 30 straight hours of sleep in a row, or if you only listen to it for like a minute. But how can some people listen to it song after song after song. I deleted my Dubstep international radio on Pandora a long time ago, ok? You not only have to be in the mood for it, but you have to be in a situation where you can move your feet in random patterns real fast.

Sometimes I wonder if this type of music was intended for the high strung people that are all hopped up on Mt. Dew and Sour Patch Kids all the time. You know? The kids that stayed up til' two in the morning, annoying the crap out of their parents. I most certainly am NOT one of those kids. I prefer some lyrics with my sick beats. Respect should be given to those DJs that are out there grindin' for a living, but look at David Guetta? He puts his cray cray twists with lyrics by pairing up with a star-studded artist like Kelly Rowland, Nicki Minaj, or Flo Rida.

Let me know what you, as the reader, think about Dubstep as a music genre, and for God's sake... do NOT give me a Digital Mystikz CD for Valentine's Day or someone will get a roundhouse kick to the noggin. (255)

New Year's Resolutions

Now I just have one question for y'all... Have you already quit your New Year's Resolution?

If your answer is yes, then keep reading. If your answer is no, I congratulate you! Keep up the good work, soldier! You will reap the benefits of it in less than 365 days.

Back to you cheaters... urrr... I mean strugglers. Those of you that told yourself December 31, 2012 at around 11:30 P.M. that you were going to:

Lose weight

Exercise more

Get a job

Do better in school

Be a better parent

Save money

Eat healthier

Lots of you can't understand why it is so hard to carry out a simple little promise that you made to yourself. Part of the problem is, you didn't contemplate and really think about the toughness it would take and the how to. Did you really sit down one December evening and plan an eating schedule out for the next three months, or make a YMCA membership appointment?

 Yea... didn't think so.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not scolding you. But you shouldn't be so hard on yourself either. Try to take small steps in the right direction, and if they are, in fact, small... at least you're on your way. It takes a while to break bad habits and to change as a person. First you will see the change, and then the people around you will see it.

Everyone all over the country has internal struggles that they are dealing with at this time of the year. They ask themselves, "Do I want to start now... or wait til' the Lent Season?" Pretty soon they are back to their same old ways and solutions. "I'll start tomorrow." And that's all fine and dandy... until tomorrow becomes December 31st again. So be patient, and stick with it! We're all rooting for you! (308)

What it's really about!

By the looks of the title you may have already guessed that I am revisiting a topic I started on earlier on this blogging week about what I wanted for Christmas and wish lists. I'm just going to warn you now: Strap your boots on because we are going deep into this mutiny.

During this month and whole holiday season (right after Thanksgiving) I have been just appalled. Flat out knocked back on my heels- and this isn't the icy, dangerous weather we have been facing. Hard core (and nosed, I might add) little brats in Walmart screaming for toys, fighting with their siblings, and sassing their parents. Uhm... Excuse me, little Miss Sunshine? But when I was your age I would get a big whooping on the butt that day, and coal and switches on "THE" day (pertaining to Christmas morning). This is the kind of shniz that makes me want to drop my Snuggie (that I'm probably getting for my Dad for the second year in a row), march over there, and scold the little punk. Hasn't anyone ever told/scared them with the "Santa's watching" threat? Apparently, that was a fad when I was growing up. Guess so.

Children during this time should be in a following frame of mind. When I say following, I mean that they should try and model themselves after Jesus. Baby Jesus got three gifts when he was born from the Three Kings. Three!!! Can you imagine how much crying, complaining, and whining would be happening right after Mom cleaned up the wrapping paper on Christmas Day? Not to mention how long the lines would be... Full of sweating, nervous parents returning the Polly Pockets and HotWheels that weren't the right colors or models for their little princesses and hams.

This is not what Christmas is all about! I get so offended when parents let their children behave in the fashion they do, especially during a time of generosity, unselfishness, and giving. And right off the heels of Thanksgiving no less!

It's just... NO!

Christ was sent from above by the "Man upstairs" for us. Shouldn't that be all the gift we, as humanity, need? Yes, I know that Saint Nicholas kind of reinvented the wheel and, in a sense, ruined that aspect of it. But the man had good intentions. Both God and Jesus want us to give. They also want us to not expect it in return. This is where people have problems and start to get greedy.

I know one thing! My children will grow up with very few gifts. They will behave during this holiday, and will get small portioned rewards at the end of the month. And for God's sake, (quite literally) they will NOT ask if there are any more gifts for them, fight their siblings for toys (when they have their own), or say that they don't like a gift. Because, as far as I'm concerned, they are dang lucky that they have a bed, shoes, and food. Tis' the season. (505)

#SecretSantaProbs

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, not to mention painless because I know your little sweet buns need to get your apron back on and keep on keepin' on with the cookie icing, gift wrapping, and money budgeting during this grandiose time of the year.

Let's talk about something quite relevant as we are nearing a very important holiday: Secret Santa Gift Exchanging.

Yes, it's here, ladies and gents. This is where certain groups, teams, and organizations get together for a Christmas party and exchange gifts that they think would be perfect for any random person that happens to show up! How fun.

Not quite. This becomes tricky, and you have to follow some certain rules. Rules like:

1) Never get clothes, shoes, or accessories. Basically nothing involved with clothing and personal style. Not everyone will be the same size, have the same tastes, or, for all you know, have a religion that allows you to where it. Stay with me.

2) Always find out a minimum price range for the gift. Don't want to go overboard trying to impress with your quarter mil Rolex, and then you end up with a $5 Starbucks gift card. Thanks for the frappe, girl!

3) On the other hand, you also want to be weary of underachieving in the "impress that new co-worker hottie" department. I'm talking about being embarrassed when you have the cheapest of the cheap gift at the part: a pair of wool socks... that are used I might add. Just... no!

4) Stay away from colors that pertain to certain genders... (like there is anything but Female and Male...) Unless, of course, it's your men's wrestling team Christmas party or maybe a little holiday whine sipping party with your Se* and the City girlfriends. Have at it with Gucci and Louis, if that's the case!

One last thing. This time on the receiving end of this festive activity:

**Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT get upset if you get something that you are disappointed with. Just remember that it is a gift, it is free, you didn't buy, your wallet isn't hurting. I mean, you wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings would you? That's not "what it's all about." (373)

Christmas Wish Lists

Since Christmas is all about the birth of Christ, our savior sent from the "man upstairs", I've decided to NOT give my parents, sister, or friends any idea as to what I would like to have. (future blog idea?) Don't get me wrong; I think it is great that people get a little something extra during this time of the year where almost all of us should feel especially generous... like more than what we usually should feel.

So, like I said, there was zip on my wish list to "Santa." Nada. Nothing. Yea, right.

Momma always said that when you get older, your gifts become more expensive. Thus you get less gifts. Don't get it? Please. Allow me to explain. When you get older, your interest in toys and nickety-nacks decreases. You go from wishing for a Tickle-Me-Elmo and a tent to sit in the corner of your room to wanting your first cell phone, a laptop for college, some Beats by Dr. Dre headphones (which are outrageously expensive... like to the point where I want to do a blog solely on that topic). When you become a grown-up and start receiving grown-up gifts, you will receive less. Plain and simple. Because toys cost less than electronics, cars, and jewelry. More toys at low prices are the equivalent to extremely high priced goodies for maturing adolescents.

Hopefully I have made myself clear and beaten a dead horse.

I bet you are wondering what little ole' Morgan received for Christmas? (Yes, I know it is the 23rd, but we exchanged a tad bit earlier this year due to schedules.) It wasn't a Bop-It if that's what you were wondering. And no! It was not a Light Bright. It was, in fact, a wireless keyboard made by Apple for my iPad (that I got for my birthday earlier in the year). Must have been some pricey keyboard because the only other thing I received was a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Boy, am I forever grateful for my loving family for giving me these items! I, out of all people, do not deserve them and do not need them, but I also understand why my parents do it.

 1) They love me and care about my happiness.

 2) They, I'm sure, get probably even more enjoyment out of me having the items than I do.

Part of maturing is accepting things that...well, frankly, SUCK! No more opening multiple trinkety stuff and stocking stuffer like calendars, candy canes full of Hershey kisses, or LifeSaver Holiday booklets. I guess I just have to learn to accept the inevitable. (435)

Icing Pains

One of the worst things to do when you are an athlete or anyone rehabbing, for that matter, is ICING! Now I don't mean the frosting type icing.... because compared to swelling control, well... it's cake. (No pun intended.)

What sucks most about icing a knee, back, or forehead is:

1) How cold it is. The initial shock of placing it on the needed body part is jolting. It is seriously uncomfortably cold.

2) The redness and frostbite you get from the fifteen plus minutes you are required to leave it on for. Feel the burn!

3) The loss of feeling you get to that particular body part. You seriously go numb. Say goodbye to figuring out if you still have a headache or not.

4) The way you feel after. You, no matter if you are in a sauna, can not, for the life of you, get warm and back to normal body temperature. Kiss your homeostasis feature goodbye.

Yes, I know that icing is a great medical technique used by trainers, doctors, and anyone with common sense to reduce the blood flow to a certain area. When you injure yourself your body wants to send healing blood cells to that area to heal it immediately. In order to protect it, the body overdoes it in terms of the number of blood cells: thus, the "swelling" and increased size. That being said icing is used to numb the injured body part and decrease swelling. Icing to create numbness decreases pain.

So whether you have a ice gel pack, a lunch box fridge box, or a package of veggies such as: peas, carrots, or corn, icing is the painful price to be beautiful as they say! If you want to heal faster and rehab the correct way, you must ice... Even though you get the chills! :) (306)

Keeping Up with the K̶a̶r̶d̶a̶s̶h̶i̶a̶n̶s Laundry

Many of you look at the title of this blog and write it off as a pointless blog post of absolutely nothing of importance: the Kardashian family. Before I capture you and your fascination... err infatuation, I should say, of the self-made star kin, I should probably tell you that this blog has absolutely zip to do with Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney.

So those of you that despise them and their million dollar christmas gifts that they exchange can keep on reading this! This blog post is about dirty laundry! Though it will be a quicky, it will be a goody!

Dirty laundry is something that we all have and have to work with. We have to clean all of it eventually... unless you are the Kardashians... Then you never have to do any of it because you always have newer and cuter outfits to wear! For those of us that have a closet limit, we buy Tide and fabric softener.

What I tend to do is let it build up for a week, and then do a bunch of batches on the weekends when I am not as busy and have more free time. This system seems to work for me fairly well. You have to remember to do it at the end of the week because then you won't have those pair of dress slacks for your church that Sunday. If you do have more clothes than normal, then you can afford to let the laundry go longer than others.

Doing the laundry is really simple! Just put a batch in to begin with, and by your second batch, you will have something drying in the dryer while you wash another batch! While you are waiting for your batches to wash/dry you can do other chores or activities.

I, personally, do my own laundry be cause it gives me lots of independency. A lot of pride is taken in cleaning my own clothes. Who else should do it? They are your clothes and are worn on your back! So grab some dryer sheets and get poppin'! :) (348)