Growing up, I can distinctly remember a fascination bordering on obsession with two professional athletes.  The first is Darryl Strawberry, the second, Dennis Rodman. 

Darryl Strawberry recently released a book: “Straw: Finding My Way” which I intend to read.  I’m not exactly sure why I was such a fan of Darryl’s– he was a Met and I was a budding Cubs fan; liking any Met was certainly not allowed.  But, he played right field, where I sit at Wrigley, so I was easily able to cheer him on when the Mets were in town.  Perhaps I just liked his last name because I’d never heard anything so silly before.  I was a few years shy of 10 years old, but I was determined that this was the greatest baseball player there was.  I had a Darryl Strawberry shirt and a plastic “Starting Line-up” figure of him– my two most prized possessions. 

In the mid to late 90′s, Darryl’s career started to fade as his cocaine use went up, and my interest in him waned.  Luckily for me, there was a new Chicago Bull in town, and his name was Dennis Rodman.  All I wanted for Christmas in 1997 was Rodman’s book: “Bad As I Wanna Be.”  Luckily, I received this book (along with a Rodman Bulls jersey– another prized possession!!) and read it cover to cover in a matter of days.  This was surely not what my other 14 year old girlfriends were reading, but I was entranced by this man and his I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude.  Accordingly, I was the only girl on my 8th grade basketball team to receive a technical foul, and probably the only one who could ever be proud of such a thing.  “Bad As I Wanna Be” remains one of the single most influential books of my life, right up there with The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and On the Road by Jack Kerouac.  Quite the collection.  I fully expect that “Straw: Finding My Way” has a good chance to be added to this group.  I’ll keep you updated.

And, now you don’t have to wonder why I have a bit of an edge!

Pet Peeve of the Day: People who run to the gym and/or races (5k’s, 8k’s, etc.)

Quote of the Day:“Don’t let what other people think decide who you are.” –Dennis Rodman

Coincidentally, I also hate the people that wear these T-Shirts:

“Ithaca is Gorges”:  You try living in Ithaca, NY for 5 months and you’ll see what I mean.  In that span of 5 months, I probably saw no less than 70,000 people wearing these bright green tees.  Ugh.

Any shirt that references some sort of the female anatomy– i.e. “Vagitarian” “I’m not a Gynecologist But I’ll take a Look” “Save a tree eat a beaver” “Free Mammograms”:  These are not funny and dude, do you seriously think any self respecting chick will even bother to talk to you while donning this shirt?  The sad thing is, I have seen such shirts on boys (should be men) over the age of 14.  I actually had it out with the Free Mammogram guy.  That was an intelligent conversation.  You do not want to go up against the trifecta of me, Nibbles, and Biggie.  Avoid this by not wearing utterly stupid and offensive t-shirts.

Everyone Ones Loves a (insert religion/haircolor/nationality here) Girl:  No, actually everyone doesn’t.  I for one, don’t. 

Any graphic/ironic shirt– i.e. it is a high school sports team shirt, PBR shirt or one that says ”Porn Star”:  We get it, you’re a hipster and you’re too cool for school.  I would tell you to walk away but your jeans are probably too tight for you to be able to move.  I’ll do the walking away, thanks.

Things I Live For:  The smell of lighter fluid burning (not in the pyromaniac way, but in the ooooooo someone’s getting ready to grill way), Friday the 13ths

Quote of the Day: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” –Lao-Tsu

Some food and drink items that I sorely miss:

Koala Yummies:  I remember being obsessed with these when they came out, but then actually eating them and disliking them.  This was most likely how I learned, at a young age, that disappointment was a part of life.  But something called “Yummies” coupled with the cuteness of a Koala is a win-win situation even if it didn’t taste so. 

Hubba Bubba Pop: (Yes I said Pop, this is the midwest).  This was the most delicious beverage I have ever imbibed– pop that tastes like bubblegum, in a PINK can!  My neighbor down the street and I would walk to the corner store on summer days to buy this.  As far as I knew it was the only place to purchase it.  Alas, that corner store is now Uncommon Ground Wrigleyville and I’m pretty sure they don’t sell this.

3-D Doritos:  I am not a Dorito fan, but I would eat these like they were going out of style.  For a good six week period in high school a scenario ensued that involved smoking various items after school with my friend Nick, buying said Doritos, and then going to drivers ed together.  3-D Doritos will forever remind me of being 15, Central Driving Academy, and my legendary teacher, TUCHO who I’m pretty sure has been deported or locked up for drug trafficking by now. 

Crystal Clear Pepsi: It was CRYSTAL CLEAR Pepsi.  Some people thought it was gross, I thought it was awesome. 

Are there any food items that you wish were still in production??

Pet Peeve of the Day: Chronic tardiness.  Especially when people are like “Oh la dee da, hahaha I am aways late, silly me!”  Figure it out people.  If Shanky can avenge her chronic tardiness, so can you!

Quote of the Day: ”There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person.” –Dan Greenberg

For all you Twitter users, (in case you didn’t already know that no one cares), this is what a fool you look like:

Pet Peeve of the Day: Most Cubs fans

Quote of the Day: “Yeah, it could have been the soft mattress.  Or the midnight rape.  Or the nude gay art show that took place in my room.  One of those probably added to the lack of sleep.” –Jeremy, Wedding Crashers