Looking Back

This post is a part of 20SB’s Looking Back Blog Carnival, and Ben & Jerry’s is awarding free ice cream to lucky bloggers and readers! Here is me last August, ranting and raving about people judging me based on my job...

Why is it that when we meet people, the first (or close to the first) thing they ask is "what do you do for a living?" or, on occasion, "What do your parents do for a living?" When we introduce ourselves to people and they ask the horrid question of "tell me a little about yourself" why is the answer always "I'm a (fill in the blank with job title here)"?

This societal ritual makes me very uncomfortable, especially because I have what people perceive to be a 'boring' job. There are disinterested nods and glazed-over expressions. The image that pops into their head is inevitably this or something very much like it:

(source)

The thing is, I love my job and I get very tired of defending it. I'm even abused for my job by OTHER ACCOUNTANTS because I chose tax as my specialty. I considered not even putting my actual job in the profile of this blog for fear of losing readers.

Should I stop introducing myself as an accountant so I don't have to deal with this problem?

"Hi, I'm Jen. I enjoy photography in all forms, decoupage, science fiction and drama shows, cult movies, indie and punk music, museums, and my newest passion, blogging. Also, I work at a Big 4 CPA firm." and then segue into a discussion of how I made my coffee table, brilliant!

... that sounds infinitely better than "I'm Jen, a tax accountant...(blank stares)... but I really love my job! It's so interesting! Really!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!"

Does anyone else have this or a similar problem? What do you do when faced with job judgmentalists?

Wookies are part man, part dog, and part horse

I have to share this everywhere possible because it is hilarious.

A movie preview of Star Wars that ran in Tiger Beat written by someone with a third grade education, apparently, after having done a half-assed interview with Mark Hamill...

Enjoy.

(click photo to embiggen)
(via stuck in the 70s)

Whimsical weddings done RIGHT

Does anyone remember the circus-themed wedding on Ed? Were you also cowering with embarassment and barely-suppressed rage at the idea that this was their WEDDING? What were they thinking?? Thank goodness they also came to their senses (at the very last possible second, I might add, after I had bitten my fingernails down to the quick). I'm thinking my overreaction to this wedding was probably due to the fact that I was planning my own when I watched this season.


I cannot even look at this picture any more.

I thought that so whimsical a theme could not possibly ever work for a wedding, that it would always be tacky. Let me tell you, I was so wrong. Check out these absolutely amazing photos from a carnival themed wedding. I am swooning over their freaking ferris wheel. FERRIS WHEEL, PEOPLE! I want to go to there.

Inspired by some of the shots from the above wedding, check out these equally amazing inspirationg boards from snippet & ink:

Can I get married again, please? How fun would these weddings be?

Wednesday Cup of Coffee

In a different sort of coffee feature, I want to share with you some cool (and useful) items made out of burlap coffee sacks. Maya*Made makes WIP (work in process) buckets, storage buckets, pin cushions, and other greatness out of free trade coffee sacks.

These are so great! I love the idea of using them as storage containers in place of baskets and plastic bins. And the pin cushion is adorable, maybe I need one of those after I start learning how to do cross stitch!

Also, check out Maya's great blog here.

My mom wants me to start off learning cross stitch with something easy, like an ornament

But can't I just jump into something awesome (and probably quite difficult for a complete newbie) like these charts from emily peacock tapestry?

Happy birthday little bro!

(ok it was yesterday, but today we celebrate!)

This was us 21 years ago today. And now, we party in Vegas!

(Mom will probably kill me for posting this picture)

Love you! See you soon!

Favorite Childhood Item

So far I have avoided blogging about the Unravelling course because it would be unfair to our wonderful teacher, Susannah, for all of us to give away the details of her creative assignments. I think I'm OK sharing this vague snippet, however, without going into detail.

One of our assignments is "favorite things" so, of course, I photographed my favorite childhood toy, Ernie. I'm curious what everyone else's favorite childhood toy, blanket, or other item is. Do you still have it?

Please share!

If you haven't already seen it, this is what you should be doing this weekend.

(source)

See it in 3D if you can. Bring a tissue, you'll thank me.

Wednesday Cup of Coffee

Yes, I changed the name. Mostly to force myself to stick with a specific day for these posts.

This cartoon cracked me up. See it and more post-it cartoons at Savage Chickens.

Yes, our anniversary and my birthday are very close together.

Happy 26th Birthday to me! This day last year I was in Antigua for my Honeymoon... that sounds pretty nice right now.

This is the most ridiculous picture of myself that had already been uploaded to flickr. There are many more ridiculous photos in existence, however, quite ridiculous.

Edit: Celebs who apparently have the same birthday as me:

Zachary Quinto

Wayne Brady

Justin Long


Morena Baccarin

Jewel Staite

All celeb photos via wikipedia.org