Orange Is The New Black: The Verdict Thus Far

As all of my friends and family well know, I'm a big fan of Netflix. Netflix is the way to my soul, along with Swedish fish, iced coffee and stilettos. I started watching Orange is the New Black, and I really am enjoying this show more so than I thought I would! I can say this show really makes viewers evaluate what types of dangers, circumstances, and emotional situations people, particularly women in this show, would be experiencing in a prison. If you're interested in starting this show, I would highly recommend it. It strays from the typical themes and plot lines of most other popular series.

Orange is the New black (or OITNB) follows Piper Chapman, played by Taylor Schilling, who is engaged and turns herself in when it is discovered that she had a previous life of working with a drug cartel, and had a romantic affair with the female head of the cartel, Alex Vause. I personally love Alex, her look, and her personality. Piper makes body care products and humorously brags that her and her partner and best friend are selling their products in the store Barneys. She is engaged to a shy reserved man named Larry, who I think is a big wuss, although he is very sweet and admirable by choosing to stay with his wife when she goes to do her time, which she is sentenced to 15 months. Piper and Alex are definitely two of my favorites on this show.  

Chapman (In the prison they reveal in the show that you're called by your last name) meets a very large array of inmates. Usually the different races tend to stick together, but regardless Piper meets many different women with all kinds of different backgrounds and reasons for being in prison. My personal favorites are Yoga Jones, who keeps a very calm and tranquil disposition and teaches yoga classes in the prison. I love her voice and the flashes of wisdom and humor the viewers come across. Poussey Washington is a very dynamic and beautiful character whose background and story I've yet to learn about, but I do know she was named after a place in France and is best friends with another inmate Taystee, whose friendship I admire and would really like to see more of as I venture into Season 2.

I also love Officer Bennett, Ms.Claudette, Red, Nicky, Sophia...The list continues. 

The only character that drives me up the way is Tiffany Pennsatucky. I cannot stand this girl, her voice, her teeth...I shudder at the thought. Shes not a favorite of mine, and isn't likely to become one. 

One of the best aspects of this show is that you learn about a lot of the other inmates back stories and their reasons for ending up in prison. This show has a way of showing the viewers that not everyone who is in prison should be labeled a "criminal" and that everyone makes mistakes, some people just pay for them differently. A round of applause for this Netflix Original, I am a fan! 

Love Always, B 

PS. "I threw my pie for you" 

Megan Strandberg: A Blog Post Just For Her

Where do I even start. This girl is crazy and beautiful and strong and hilarious and a horse-loving barefoot child. And shes been my best friend for 15 years. People usually are like wait what? 15 years? And that's really how long we've known each other. Me, Megan and our other best friend Katie all grew up in the same neighborhood since we were very little, and we've done everything together. Without her and Katie, I wouldn't be the person I am today. 

Megan is hardheaded. I think its weird that she puts barbecue sauce on everything. Like corn and BBQ sauce? I wont lie, its actually quite delicious. Megan is adventurous and brave and a bad-ass. I keep a list of things she's said, and I'd like to relay one of my favorites of those things to you, my readers, now:

At lunch one day, in the midst of high school lunch conversation, Megan Marie remarks the following:
"Could you imagine the cops busting in and breaking up a shrimp fight? I wanna buy some shrimp from the pet store so I can fight them like RAAAAAHHH!" 

First of all. What? 
This is my proof shes crazy but also completely hilarious. She doesn't even mean to be funny, it just happens that way. 

Megan loves animals and I think shes gonna be one of the most incredible vets ever. (I'm really hoping she'll get in the horse birthing business so I can watch a live horse birth.) Megan played volleyball her freshman year and she wasn't half bad. I loved coming to her games and supporting her. Megan introduced me to a lot of really amazing people at Lake Howell High, were I recently graduated (Class of 2014! Go us!) Shes going to be a senior next year at Eustis High school and I am so proud and happy for her. 

I know shes gonna do great things. There's no underestimating Megan because she'll come out of nowhere and exceed your expectations. Shes one of the most unique, likable, and sweet people you'll ever meet. 

Her horse is an beautiful majestic asshole. Renegade will step on your iphone and step on your toes and buck you off of her and take off running with you. She loves pouch applesauce and mints. She will also eat steamed soybeans with sea salt, which I learned the last time I was at megans house. Renegade is a best friend to us. We've painted her hooves and braided her hair. We've put sunglasses on her head and taken selfies with her. We sat on the ground next to her while she eats she watered down sloppy feed because she had a tendency to choke. Fun fact, horses cant throw up, so you need to manually un-choke a horse which involves a lot of work and a hose. She is a huge angry bitch to be completely honest, and we love her so much. I was so happy Megan finally got her horse, her bad bad horse. 

Megan is passionate and thoughtful and imaginative. She makes delicious pancakes and shes very generous. Shes the easiest people to be around. Theres no pressure to be anyone but yourself. You can just sit around and say nothing and enjoy each others company, or be laughing in her Honda and singing along to songs. We took a vacation to the Keys last summer and that was one of the best vacations I've ever been on. And the inside jokes we have, oh my goodness. I can't even go there. 

Megan is my best friend. I love her so much and I can't even say everything I want to say about her because then I'd be writing a novel. Megan is the best friend that is like a body part you need. Not like an eyeball, like a heart or a brain. Or a liver, you cant go on very long without a liver. She never gets tired of hearing my silly dramas over and over again. Shes one of the greatest people in the whole world and I don't know a life without her, and I do not ever want to imagine life without her. 

Love Always, B. 

PS- Jill's mom would really like this blog, don't you think?

An Intervention

I know. I know.
 I know I have a problem. And this problem has been occurring for a long time...I think I was about as young as 5 or 6 when I first used...I stopped for a long time, but the craving just came back full force into my young adulthood. Its a real problem, and Its now time I address the problem, and the first step is admitting it. Alright. Deep breath. I can do this. 

Hi, My name is Robby, and I'm addicted to Swedish Fish. 

I'm not kidding. You know those red, yummy, delicious fish in that shiny yellow bags with that classic font reading...."Swedish Fish"? Yeah. Im very obviously addicted to them. Ask any of my friends, anyone who follows me on twitter, my parents, the people I went to school with...I have a problem with swedish fish!

Maybe a year ago, I wanted to grab a snack from Seven Eleven. Innocently enough, I grabbed a bag of Swedish Fish and thought "I haven't had these in forever! Whats one bag gonna hurt, right?". 
Nope. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I buy these things constantly, If I don't have them when I want them, I talk about them usually until they're in my possession. Its bad. I do not get tired of eating them. I'm eating them right now as I write this blog post. 

I remember about two weeks ago, my boyfriend Ian and I ventured to the beach with some of his close friends and his siblings, Emily and Adam. When it came time for lunch, we went to subway and boom. The craving struck. I had to have some Swedish Fish. Ian and Emily thought it was totally ridiculous, but hear me out, I have a problem, remember? We walked to Walgreen's and I almost had a withdrawal right there in the store when I couldn't find them. Eventually I found them and payed for them in whatever change was left in my wallet. I spent literally my last penny on Swedish Fish. 

I drug Ian through Walmart because I was looking for the 6 pound bag of Swedish Fish they had the last time I was shopping for groceries. The 6 pound bag was not there, and needless to say, my heart was broken. I mended that wound with a large bag of fish.

Although my addiction is real, and its ongoing, I'm not greedy! I always ask the people around me "Hey, want a fish?" This is the kind of question that If you don't know me very well, you'd be confused and ask for an explanation.  But most of my friends and family will accept a fish or two when I offer. 

Perhaps one day this addiction will subside. I doubt it. I mean c'mon, they're a fat free snack, they don't melt in the hot Florida climate, and they don't leave any sticky or weird feeling on your hands. You always know what to expect when you eat a Swedish Fish. Sweet, sweet happiness. 

Love Always, B

My New Addiction: Hot Yoga

Happy Friday!!

I've been practicing yoga since I was about 14. What initially drew me into yoga was a pose I saw a woman do in a tampon commercial in Seventeen magazine (I'm not kidding, but I wish I was).  

I thought to myself, "There is no way this is physically possible....This isn't real!" 

Until I googled it. The pose is called crow pose, and it is very real my friends. I found out my mother can do it, my best friend can do it, and my boyfriend did it in 10 seconds of me showing him how to do it. Needless to say the yogi was outyogi'd. 

I still cant do the stupid freakin' crow. I am clearly not yet worthy of the crow. I can do a few headstands, which really brought my ego to life, but I am determined to be a master crow poser. For those of you who don't practice yoga, crow pose looks like this...

Crow pose is all about core engagement, balance, and arm strength. As well as not throwing your face directly into your mat. Other than that, your chances of living through this pose is pretty good!

My goal after crow pose is to be able to get into Scorpion pose, which is one of the coolest looking poses in my opnion! One day, Ill be able to do this...

Stepping away from the whole crow issue, yoga has become a huge part of my everyday life. Although, it wasn't till more recently that I decided to try hot yoga, which is a whole new sweaty monster in itself.

First off, there's no cell phones allowed in the studio, which is the best rule of them all. Going off the grid for 90 minutes is needed, healthy even!

The room you're practicing in is also between 95 and a 101 degrees Fahrenheit, at least at the yoga studio I attend, those are the lowest and highest temperatures I've noticed during class. Its a dry heat, and you need to drink water like a camel. It sounds like torture, but its one of the most relaxing, challenging and fun workouts I've ever done. 

The self-exploration and finding your strengths and weaknesses builds on a very healthy and happy mindset, and really lets you get in touch with yourself and your soul. I get excited before I go to yoga, not to mention this workout makes you sweat a lot more, and according to my best friend, we'll look like Doutzen Kroes and Miranda Kerr in no time. Love that!

The best part about people who avidly practice yoga? They tend to be friendly, calm and very non-judgmental people. If you can't do a certain pose or need to modify a pose for your body, no one even thinks about judging you. You do your own thing, man. 

Call me crazy, but after a hot yoga class, my mind is so clear I swear I can usually SEE things better, literally. Its the best feeling in the world!

If you've considered taking a yoga class, DO IT! Try it at least once, and I can almost promise you wont regret it. My tips for the young grasshoppers include...

1. Bring lots of water to hot yoga, you will be a water worshiper by the end of class. 

2. I always want a light snack afterwards, so bring a Luna bar as a little something to hold you over till your next meal.

3. Buy a thicker yoga mat, you wont want your elbows, knees, feet, hands or shoulders to suffer because your mat is too thin. I would suggest the GAIAM yoga mats, they're comfortable and have super cute patterns to choose from and can be found at Target. 

4. Bring a towel to place OVER your mat. I know it sounds silly, but you will be slipping and sliding in your own sweat. Plus the towel keeps your mat from getting a funky smell.

5. RELAX! Leave your worries and later engagements and responsibilities elsewhere. 

6. Don't push yourself too hard, listen to your body, but don't be afraid of a challenge

7. Wear yoga pants, something you can open your legs up in so no one see your business, and a tighter top. You spend some time in an upside down-ish position, especially in downward-facing dog pose.  

8. Bring a friend! It makes it much more fun. Me and my best friend make faces at each other while were in childs pose and its hilarious. 

9. For inspiration, I follow +Kerri Verna (Beachyogagirl) @ash_constance @dms_yoga, and cool yogis like them! They have great tips and super awesome poses and lots of positive energy!

10. Lululemon has awesome yoga clothes, as well as forever21's fitness line, and Victorias Secret PINK yoga pants are amazing! 

So, what are you waiting for? Go try some yoga!

Namaste! ॐ

Love Always, B 

A Letter To Dan Harmon

Dear Mr.Harmon, 

I can't really even begin to say how much everyone here misses you. There's not a day that goes by that we all don't think about you or talk about you or remember you. I cant believe its been almost a month since you passed away. And frankly, I don't think its fair at all. I guess life isn't very fair though. I get dealt the hand with the father who has a brain tumor and skin cancer and tons of complications as a result, and the healthy active man passes away. It makes me angry. It makes me scared for my father, but it also makes me appreciate still having my dad around just to talk to. 

Just your absence is the saddest thing. And I know that I'm the one who needs to be supportive and strong for Ian and for Emily and everyone. I kept that Great Smoky Mountains quarter you gave me because I told you about my coin collection and how I didn't have the Great Smoky Mountains yet. I look at it sitting on my dresser and thinking about how never in my life would I thought that a quarter would mean so much to me. Just like the Jimmy Buffet chap sticks you gave me that are flavored like island-y drinks. And the salt life shirt I borrowed the day we played tennis. I really suck at tennis, but any time I did something right, I got a high five or a enthusiastic "Awesome!" from you. And whenever I'd put the tennis ball way out to the left or into another court, you would come show me what I did wrong.

 I would have never said it then but that meant the world to me, because my dad is too sick to play tennis or any sport with me anymore. 

I remember going and playing volleyball at UCF with you and Ian and Adam and Em. You, Emily and I made a great team and those were some of the best weekends of my Senior year because for just a little while, I was spending time doing something awesome with people I love, apart from all the schoolwork and the studying. 

You were like another dad to me, and even those times you were picking me up from my house and it was just you and I in the car, It was never awkward at all. We would talk and share ideas the whole way to wherever it was we were headed and meeting everyone else. I could tell you were an amazing dad to Ian and Emily and Adam. The way you and Mrs.Harmon would talk and interact made me smile and laugh. You were the kind of person who made other people just feel good about life and the future and themselves.

 I only knew you for the amount of time I knew Ian, which is a little over 2 years. Those 2 years were probably the best 2 years of my life, and the time I got to know you was cut entirely too short. You took me to my first soccer game, and my first hockey game, and my first college football game. There were countless times you made me and everyone else laugh so hard it almost hurt. You were so selfless and did so much for other people without expecting anything in return. Singing in the car with you and Emily were some of the best car rides. 

Mr.Harmon, you were the type of person that made the little things count. Like a quarter and some chapstick. A tee shirt and a day well spent playing volleyball. A classic song on the radio. A strike at the bowling alley. 

I cant promise that me and Ian will be in love and together for ever and ever, but what I can promise is that he will have a best friend and a counselor and a musical reference and a scrabble opponent and a cheerleader for his whole life.

 I can promise that Emily will also have a best friend, and a role model, and a student, and a personal stylist, and a comedian, and a therapist and a big sister with her for as long as possible. 

Adam will always have someone to compliment his facial hair, and ask what team he's rooting for, and someone to make fun of when I sunburn my face with sunglasses so bad I look like a raccoon. And Mrs.Harmon will have someone to give her some extra smiles and hugs and laughs and conversations on the couch and recipes to talk about and someone to help garden with, and of course, lots of crazy energy to deal with from yours truly. 

I will never regret always making Ian wait so I could say goodbye and goodnight and give you a hug before I left the house. And even sometimes when I would awkwardly say I love you, I really did mean it. I'm glad I said it that last night, and when I said see you tomorrow, I really wish I could have. 

Thank you for being you, Mr.Harmon. You changed my life and you made me a better person. Ill never forget you. I love you. 

- Robby 

Grey's Anatomy: The Verdict Thus Far

Netflix: One of the great joys of life when your life on any given day involves sweat pants, a couch or bed, and a laptop. Recently, I've begun watching the show Grey's Anatomy, which all in all, I'm enjoying greatly. It has the romantic aspects, as well as the medical and anatomical as the title of the series suggests, and tons and tons of surgeries, which every so often have a fair amount of blood, carnage, and extreme situations. This show is well worth the binge-watching. If one would be interested in starting a vicious cycle of watching whole seasons in one day, I would suggest reading this at a later date, because spoiler alert, obviously. 

Currently, I'm on Season 2: Episode 10, and this episode had me considering the overall characterization and exploration of the emotional and mental states that can result greatly from working long shifts in a largely successful hospital. Each episode has commentaries at the start and finish from the main character Meredith Grey, who in my opinion is fantastic and driven, but always looks like shes about to burst into tears. 

The cast of this show is well put together, although the behaviors of the surgeons and surgical interns seems to be inappropriate at times which makes the show harder to believe and honestly, harder to follow if you missed a few episodes. Overall, my favorite characters are Meredith Grey, Izzy Stephens, and George O'Malley. I may have misspelled their names, but if one watches the show, they know very well who I'm referring to. 

My opinions on the characters is this:

Derek Shepherd, who was Meredith's original love interest in the show, ends up having a beautiful wife who works with babies, named Addison, whom Derek had complications with and was looking to divorce. She would have been one of my favorite characters, but she and Meredith are in a very classy battle of winning over Derek and I want Meredith to be happy. Not to mention that Addison cheated on Derek at one point in time. 

Derek is clearly a very good surgeon and neurologist, but lacks the problem solving skills to decide whether or not he wants to divorce his wife and be with Meredith, or if he wants to continue to stay with his wife because shes his wife. He ultimately chooses Addison, although he already is revealing signs of wanting Meredith back.

 McDreamy is indecisive, but God, look at that face. 

I like the chief of medicine, he is running a very organized hospital. I like Dr.Burke because hes a calm and intelligent surgeon. I'm not a huge fan of Christina because she will cut anyone down and out to scrub in on a surgery. Being driven is a good thing, but not when it means pushing people out of the way to get what you want. She is also untrusting and impersonal. 

Izzy is sweet and hardworking and makes very reasonable and valid points, and hasn't made any stupid decisions yet, so I am a fan. I like George because hes also sweet and smart, but has a tendency of choking up when a serious decision or action must be made. He also likes Meredith, but has not attempted to tell her even once, so hes kind of a big chicken. 

Dr.Bailey is nicknamed "The Nazi", and she is the only person who has real logic, professionalism, strength, ability and wisdom. She acts in a way that a real person would act and wants to prepare her interns to the best of her ability. Dr.Bailey is a badass, who is also pregnant which I found out in the last few episodes.

I hate Dr.Kerev. He is rude, mean, hurtful, indecisive and clearly has a God complex with the mentality that some tasks are too small for him. Hes extremely good looking, but again, sucks as a person. 

The overall content and performances by these actors is fantastic, and I would highly suggest watching this show if you're a fan of the technical but also the emotional and moral. Good job, ABC Network!

Love Always, B