It's Saturday NIGHT!!!

And we're LIVE ... from Ashleigh's living room. 
Tonight's guests: The Walking Dead cast (watching reruns), Shaun Spencer and Burton Guster (Psych episodes), and a local chef will be teaching us how to make a snack (we made apples with peanut butter) 

I had some time on my hands to come up with this as you can see. 
A whole 10 seconds to make all that up. I could TOTALLY do the real SNL and would be hilarious. 
Moving on ... 

I had a great night on Friday. Went to see Les Miserables at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and they had amazing talent on the stage. The sets were amazing. There was a rotating stage so the turntable made sets so much easier to see from different angles. And can I totally take a moment to praise the orchestra? 
Even when the mic went out on Fantine and her big number ... the orchestra played low enough so she could belt out those notes and even without a mic on her, she had incredible projection. 

Then today on Saturday ...? 
We went out and did some shopping. I splurged on a pair of socks at a pair of earrings at this new store at Rivertown called Charming Charlie. Then I got to go to Barnes and Noble. Yay me! I love that store. I don't know if you guys were aware of that or not. Then afterward, Ash and I met up with our bestie, Emily at Red Robin for lunch. I love grilled cheese sandwiches. Especially THEIR grilled cheese sandwiches. 
We just had a ton of fun and I enjoyed myself. 

Oh ... and I discovered a new movie that was ... decent. We watched the movie Monsters University on Friday night. Are you guys aware of what the theme of that movie is exactly? 
Now just remember that I'm just picking up on this from a one time sitting. 

The movie actually starts out with a very good message. Work hard. Apply yourself. Be yourself. And you'll get to where you want to go, whether that be a good school, good job, etc... 
That's where the movie's GOOD theme ends. The movie essentially is telling kids ... and this is a SPOILER ... so I will let this pause so you can leave the room or whatever ...




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Pausing for Spoiler ....






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The real theme of Monsters University is this. It's OKAY to mess up in college, get expelled, and have no career prospects. There will be no consequences for your actions and as long as you join any company that you want to work for and start from the ground up ... you WILL get the top job. 
I kinda think that's a bunch of Bullshit (sorry family for language) but what is this world coming to ... telling kids that it's okay if you get EXPELLED because ultimately you'll still get the best jobs. 
Not to stand on a soapbox here, but that's not really what happens very often. Let's say you take 100 people. And those 100 people ALL get expelled for whatever reason from ANY university ... I'm going to wager that about 10 of those 100 actually achieve the theme of this movie and start in the 'mailroom' and work themselves up to 'Scarer' like in the movie. The other 90 are more likely still stuck in their minimum wage position in that 'mailroom'. So what exactly are we telling kids these days? I know that with the job market today, it's EXTREMELY difficult to get the jobs we GO to school FOR ... (I mean, let's face it .. I went to school to be an editor for a big time publishing company and I'm making coffee for a living right now) ... but should we really be telling impressionable children in today's media that a college education is essentially unnecessary? No. I still think that if you go to school, work hard, and apply yourself, you may STILL not get that top job ... but you have the MEANS to move forward that much faster. 
It's not like we're exactly living in a society where it's okay that you didn't go to school anymore. Nowadays, it's very literally like 

Me: "Hello, I'd like to apply for a job"
Employer: "That's wonderful. Here's the application form online. Please list your references and schooling"
Me: "Well, I'm not very qualified for this job"
Employer: "Then have a nice day. Thanks for wasting my time" (cue door slamming in your face) 

It sucks, but that's the way it is.

All right, I'm stepping off my soapbox now. I just ... found myself irritated with Disney at that moment and felt I had to say SOMETHING to that effect.

Whatever. 

All right ... I think that's enough for now. It's been a long day and tomorrow I go to church and then drive home for work at 4pm to close. So come on in if you get a chance and I'll make you the best Vanilla Macchiato you've ever had. Let's face it. I may not have gone to school to be a barista ... but I make amazing coffee. 

Be Open, Be Loving, Be Yourself
Taryn