Happy Hunger Games!

I will be the first one to admit, I have a bit of an obsessive personality. When I am passionate about something, I throw my whole heart and soul into it and want to learn more about it, want to learn everything I can. Though sometimes it means I can quickly become lost in another world, I absolutely love the feeling of being so captivated by something that it consumes me.

Like most people in this generation, the first thing to really captivate me was the Harry Potter series. I read these books over and over again, each time as enjoyable as the first. I remember waiting not so patiently for each book and movie to be released, going to midnight premieres or book release parties, crying at the death of some of my favorite characters and shrieking for joy when something wonderful happened. It was almost like a secret language was formed with my siblings and friends; we could use words like ‘muggle’, ‘bloody brilliant’, ‘better than firewhiskey’, ‘seeker’ and ‘blimey’ in daily conversation and not even be thrown off. The characters were so real to me in such influential years of my life that sometimes I wonder how much of my life was influenced by Harry Potter without even me knowing it.

I am notorious for getting caught up in tv shows, like Boy Meets World, Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, The OC and, most recently, The Vampire Diaries. But nothing ever captured me the way the Harry Potter books had. I read Twilight and enjoyed it, but I couldn’t feel myself right there with the characters and I wondered if there would ever be a novel series to make me feel like that again.

And then I read ‘The Hunger Games’.

I realize I am late into the game on this one, but I don’t think that makes me any less of a fan. When reading the books (over the past 5 days I have read both ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Catching Fire’), I feel like I am in Panem, like I am running alongside Katniss in the arena. When she screams out for Peeta, I feel my heartstrings tug because I want to scream out for him too (and sometimes do). My eyes watered when President Snow made the Quarter Quell announcement and my heart broke during the interviews. I plan on starting “Mockingjay” the minute I get home from work and will no doubt have it done by the time ‘The Hunger Games’ DVD is released on Saturday. I am told that my love for Peeta may waver during the third installment, but I doubt it. Peeta is the man and I am very loyal to my literary crushes!

It’s been the week of The Hunger Games for me and I am so excited to have found a series where I can be captivated again, where I can escape my own world and feel like I am right beside the tributes. If you haven’t read it, I strongly strongly recommend blocking a few hours of your life and starting the first book, but don't say I didn't warn you about their power to make you obsessed.  I can’t wait to reread them over and over again, not to mention watch the movie!

(This should have really been the thing to hook me months ago...)

"Welcome to The OC, bitch!"

Yesterday marked the nine year anniversary of the series primere of "The O.C." In the summer of 2003, Fox launched a little summer show that took off to become one of the most talked about series of the early 2000's. Basic plotline: Ryan Atwood (played by hottie Ben McKenzie) is a bad boy from Chino and, along with his druggie/gun-carrying brother, steal sa car. They get caught (bummer) and Ryan is assigned witty do-gooder lawyer, Sandy Cohen to defend him. Sandy knows about being handed a tough life, but he made something of himself (and married rich. such a sorority girl at heart) so he wants to make sure Ryan makes something of himself too. It's Take-A-Convict-Home Day in California and Sandy takes Ryan back to his McMansion in Orange County where he introduces him to his sweet but slightly concerned wife Kirsten and crushable nerd Seth Cohen (played by the quick-witted Adam Brody). Throw in misunderstood-and-slightly-alcoholic girl next door Marissa, snobby-but-funny Summer and a cast of other classic screwed up rich people and you get one of the biggest guilty pleasures on television.

Like most shows, the first season was by far the best and rewatching it takes me back to a simpler time of 13 year old Kacey where my biggest problems consisted of popcorn stuck in my braces, petitioning my parents for a cell phone (so i could make actual phone calls. and play snake.) and prematurely stressing about what dress I would wear and date I would bring to the Celebration Dance the following spring. (ended up getting this fabulous buttermilk yellow dress from Nordstrom that I wish I still owned and went with a kid named Kevin. We slow danced to O-town. It was epic.)

Looking back, "The O.C." probably wasn't the most appropriate show for an eighth grader to watch and it definitely gave me a warped view of what high school would be like, but it introduced me to the band Nada Surf and for that I will forever be grateful. Here are the top 5 lessons I learned from Season 1 of "The O.C."

5) Don't light candles when you are hiding out in a model McMansion home. Something will go wrong, you will light the place on fire and then your guardian family will have to bail you out of the mess. And Juvy.



Though resisting the charm and oh-so-blue eyes of Ryan Atwood would not be my strong suit.

4) Rich people have classy events for EVERYTHING. Did you know what Cotillion was before this show? Me either, and I was extremely bitter that my social circle did not have one.  Also, someone will always get punched in the face at these events. Perhaps the next socialite outing should be the Anger Management Gala?



3) Ryan's instincts are ALWAYS right and Marissa's are ALWAYS wrong. See: Tijuana, Oliver and countless other situations. The Tijuana Incident and The Oliver Incident both scared the crap out of me and I have avoided both the Mexican city and all boys with the name since.



2) Religions do not need to feud, there is a simple solution for coexistence and peace and it is called Chrismukkah. Compromise at its finest, thanks to the lovely Seth Cohen and his quirky take on life.



1) Everyone needs a Sandy Cohen in their life. Everyone.




Ah, sweet nostalgia. 

Previously on Kacey's life

I can not believe how long it has been since I have last blogged! Here's what I have been up to for the past 133 days..


* Turned 22 years old! Was surprised at midnight by a cake with the in-house girls, twas very adorable.


* Got a BIG GIRL JOB! My internship offered me a full time position and I took a leap of faith and accepted. I am learning so much about the eye banking industry, the highs and lows of working full time and I'm really learning a lot about myself.


* Dominated Greek Week with my sorority sisters (CHAMPS), we went out with an amazing Greek Sing performance and I wouldn't change a thing about my girls. Thank you for making the end of my senior year truly eventful.


* I GRADUATED COLLEGE. I have a B.A. I am an alumni. It's weird. I'm still convinced I am going to get back on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st and---oh wait, wrong fantasy. 


* Bought a new car! 2012 Ford Escape, named it Sirius Black and I am in heaven. Unlike my old hooptie, this car has air conditioning, breaks that work and the windows go down! Not to mention a CD player... luxurious!


* Found an adorable apartment in, you guessed it, New Jersey! Just because I work in Philly doesn't mean I can't live across the bridge and enjoy all the Garden State has to offer. My complex has two pools, two fitness centers, tennis courts and, best of all, parking <3


* Became completely and uncontrollably obsessed with The Vampire Diaries--my ever so patient and generous boyfriend let me watch it almost every night on Netflix, even though it completely screwed up his 'recommended for you' settings. Nearly every song they play goes right on to my iPod and I am never ceased to be shocked at the ending of an episode. Team Salvatore Brothers. 

Eternal Studs.

Through all of these big changes and exciting things, it was my family and friends who got me through it all. I've got some pretty amazing people sticking by my side and I only hope to be as good to them as they are to me.


Speaking of sticking to things, I promise to stick more to writing this blog! I will assure you the shambly and goofy things that happened to me in college are still continuing to happen in 'the real world.' Stay tuned!

Procrastinating and Serenading

In a very un-Kacey like manner, I am procrastinating the crap out of studying for my Modern Britain quiz tomorrow. I usually never procrastinate, I am always making lists and get a sick pleasure out of crossing them off…maybe I have a case of the Mondays, maybe it’s just because I worked all day or maybe it is because I had a pretty great weekend and am already missing my boy.

Anyway, I am currently listening to Natalie Cole and imagining a better place than my un-tidy, un-productive cell of a room. Seriously, there are bars on my second story window. Welcome to North Philly. Dodge the homeless.

I always, always, always, sing to Natalie Cole. Whether it’s the fun "This Will Be", the beautiful "Unforgettable" or my personal favorite "Orange Colored Sky", I can’t help it! She is just absolutely fantastic, a true testament to her father.

Also, this Whitney and Natalie cover of Aretha’s "Say A Little Prayer" is INCREDIBLE!! That song always makes me think of My Best Friend’s Wedding, which is one of the funniest movies and sweetest romantic comedies of all time.

How about I pay someone $100 to take my quiz for me and I will go to my couch and have a movie marathon of Parent Trap, My Best Friend’s Wedding and Father of the Bride?

You have 11 hours to respond! ;)

xo

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Galway, Ireland. One Year Ago <3

I'm not old, just older

Happy Hump Day everyone! I can’t believe it’s only two weeks until my 22^nd birthday…getting old. Birthdays are interesting. Little kids live for them, they spend their whole year thinking about them and the day is often so exciting that they end up crying over their ice cream cake. Then you turn 13 and think you are the shit because you are a teenager (though you still can’t really do your makeup and you wear WAY too much body spray.) Sixteen and seventeen bring a license and a sense of freedom and eighteen means you can put up an attitude when your parents still try to boss you around. Then it’s two years of stale birthdays…and then you turn 21.

I turned 21 in Ireland. A country with practically no drinking age and, on top of it, it was a Monday. I still finished a large amount of Jack Daniels, went dancing in Q Bar with my friends and wore a crown, but it definitely wasn't the same as wild 21 bashes that I have been to in the states.

Why do we have this obsession with getting absolutely smashed on our twenty first birthday? Most people have already had their first drink well before then and in many cases have also been served at bars. So why the out of control celebration?

Maybe it’s the fact that (besides being able to rent a car at 25), after 21 you can do anything you want. You have no more milestone birthdays to look forward to, no more countdowns to your special day. Turning 22 isn’t exactly something that I am super hyped about…all it means is that I am another year closer to 30. And 30....well that is OLD! ;)

xo

Weasley Is My King

So sorry for the long absence! It was midterms week followed by spring break week and this Jersey girl was busy soaking up the un-seasonably (though I am not complaining) warm weather! I haven’t gotten to do my blog post on Ron Weasley…his birthday was March 1^st but better late than never :) Here are my thoughts on the world’s favorite ginger…

 

Ron is one of the BEST characters in the HP series! I always felt like he was relatable—like all normal teenagers (and frankly most adults), he has mood swings and he struggles with jealousy of his best friend, feeling left out of his family, not being motivated to do homework and also struggling to put his romantic feelings into words. Of course, Ron also has to struggle with helping to defeat a dark wizard, being responsible for the damage of a stolen flying car and having a pet who is really a death eater. The fact he can handle all that without avada-ing himself…that’s pretty boss.

Have I mentioned that Ron has the best lines out of EVERYONE? They may not be wise like Dumbledore, but he is freakin hysterical. “Percy wouldn’t recognize a joke if it danced in front of him wearing Dobby’s tea cozy”---perfect!

Ron also put the expression “bloody hell” into my vocabulary. He definitely has the potty mouth out of the trio and is always using some interesting swear words. (“What in the name of Merlin’s soggy Y front”---no one swears quite like the British do.)

There are three posters of Ron in my room and I don’t plan on taking them down when I become a big girl with a mortgage and husband and car payment. Ron is a nice little reminder that, although life can get pretty rough sometimes, a little bit of wit and firewhiskey can make it all better.


xo