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!