I resolve....

1) To keep my apartment cleaner and more organized

2) To make an effort to really learn the Italian phrases on my Italian Phrase-a-Day desk calendar.

3) To get up in the morning to have a cup of coffee with my love.

4)To attempt to learn how to cook a few things

5)To give living room yoga the good ol' college try

6)To save money seriously for my wedding

7) To make an effort not to be such a stick in the mud about going to have a drink with my friends in 2011

8) To eat better, or at the very least take a multi-vitamin every day

9) To start reading again

10) To take advantage of the outdoor world (picnics, dog walks, tennis)


The theme of this year's Resolutions is "baby steps."

I think my downfall in the past has been my over-ambition. I'll likely never be a runner, but I can walk every once in a while. I'll probably never love to cook, but I can learn a few new recipes to save me from mac and cheese every night. I may never be that good with healthy food, but a vitamin takes no effort. You get the idea. I don't even know if I'll be able to keep up with blogging, but hopefully with writing I can keep myself accountable.

so here's to a brand new year! Buon Anno!

Ah, January. You Ugly Bastard.

With the exception of the 13th, which is the birthday of my gorgeous manfriend, Chris, everyone knows that January is by far the worst month of the entire year.


It's cold. It's dreary. Christmas is over and it's never coming back. At least not for another 360 days or so.

So what do we do to get through this depression? Whatever the hell we can, of course.

My choice for this January includes a few social activities (Birthday celebrations for Chris, Downtown with the Dinosaurs at the Exploreum, and a late month trip to the 'Ham for a visit and a lady party.) and to fill the lonely void of the nights between? A visit to my favorite sunshine state, California via seasons 1-4 of the OC.

I've just finished the episode where Marissa OD's in TJ (you know the one) and I'm remembering all kinds of things I loved and hated about this series (and a few new things as well.)

So, to refresh your memory in case you desire to get all nostalgic with me, is a list of the the top 10 things that make the OC even better this time around.

10: Marissa Cooper. She's so needy she makes Bella from Twilight look like a warrior. So Score! I can read Twilight again.

9: Julie Cooper. She's such a B. She's everything a villianess should be. Selfish, motivated, coniving, and not even a hint of soft like she gets in the 4th season.

8: Seth Cohen in comparison to my own manfriend. He would hate me if he knew that I posted this, but he doesn't read my blog so he shouldn't ever find out. He and Seth Cohen: One in the same. From the graphic tees, to the video games, to the music selection and nerdy prowess, they could be brothers.

7: The one-liners. Who knew teenage angst could be so witty? Welcome to the OC, Bitch!

6: The Drama! Being (ahem) 26 now, my adventures just aren't quite so drama filled anymore. There's no boyfriend stealing, there's no good vs. evil. Even in college, I had a little bit of drama to help get through the years, (yes, it true, women love a little drama) and I gotta tell you, it feels good to hate on someone again. Even if they are fictional (Julie Cooper, you ancient bitch!)

5: The weather: There's only two episodes I can recall when it wasn't sunny out, and I think most of the episode focused on those bizarre weather events. With the tempermental ass that's ruling Mobile's weather, it could be sunny and 30 one day, and rainy and 70 the next. Bring me that California sunshine!

4: The clothes. Despite the fact that it's now slightly outdated, the OC had/has it's fair share of fashionable clothing. I would love to be roomies with Summer any day so I could invade that closet.

3: Harbor High. That highschool is REDIC. Coffee shops? HS events like the carnival? The best McGill could do is pep ralleys. Just kidding, MacT, I still love you.

2:The softer side of Summer. It takes a while to come out, but that hardcore valley girl shell melts away, and she becomes my favorite.

1: The Music! By far the best thing about this show. The soundtrack includes most artists I still love to listen to, and mostly before they were well known at all. Thanks for introducing me to my life soundtrack, OC.


Well, there you have it. I'm sure anyone out there could add some more, so please do!

Until next time...have a great January!

I'm being published, quitting my job, moving in two weeks. No big deal.

I've gotten pretty skeptical in my old age. (I'm 26 now, you know.)

However, the expressions of sadness, much to my surprise, over my officially leaving Axcan have seemed genuine around here lately. I don't expect a last hoorah (nothing could compare to the night of craziness that happened when Luis left), but I have to admit it's been nice to have a few people tell me "Don't go!"

That's not even important right now, though. Nothing is as important as the bomb I'm about to drop on this metaphorical Hiroshima (what, too soon?). Tomorrow, on the most glorious of Fridays, a quiz that I co-wrote will be published on my favorite magazine's website. www. Mentalfloss.com

You may recall, from my last post, a coincidental meeting with David on facebook. (again, not so much coincidental, as I did ask him to be my friend on purpose. )Well he collaborated with me to help me get an in with the_floss, and I am grateful. I'm excited to see my name in print once again, because it has. been. a. while.

So please check it out tomorrow (Friday) around 11:30am EST on their website under the lunchtime quiz link.

As Katie Shrop would say, "preesh."

Until next time...

Favorite covers

I recently had the pleasure of accidentally (ok, so it wasn't so much an accident on my end) of befriending one of the contributing writers of my favorite Birmingham magazine Mental_Floss on the facebook.

His name is David, and I like his style. I won't really get into it, on the off chance he'll glance at my blog again and think I'm some crazy stalker. So I'll leave it at that. Anyway, that's not really what this is about. I bring him up because he wrote about covers that he ranks with the originals (http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/29377)
and it got me thinking about sharing some particular favorites of mine, strictly for entertainment value. Harry-if you're still keeping up with me-you'll be pleased to know that Dave is one of them. Enjoy:

"In My Life" - Dave Matthews

Originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released on 1965 album "Rubber Soul"



"Sea of Love" - Cat Power

Originally written by John Phillip Baptiste (aka Phil Phillips) in 1959.



"Baby Now That I've Found You" - Alison Krauss and Union Station

Originally written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod and released in 1967 by The Foundations



"Crazy in Love" - The Magic Numbers

Originally released by Beyonce Knowles and released in 2003 on the album "Dangerously in Love"



"Hey Ya" - Matt Weddle

Originally written by Andre 3000 for his 2003 album "The Love Below"




Well that's just to name a few. I have a lot going on right now, so I'll be back with an update on my actual life soon enough. Until then...

An Open Letter to all of the Summertime Jammers

Dear Sisqo/R. Kelly/Beyonce/Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff/Jay-Z,

When was the last time you guys came out with an awesome summer jam?

There's only so many summer mixes that can include "The Thong Song," or "Remix to Ignition."

I'm strugglin', ya'll.

It's already July and the best I can do for Summer Mix '09 is that damn "I'm on a boat."

Come on.

Sisqo-can I make a suggestion? You used to be all up ONs a summer jam, and even often refered to yourself as some sort of "dragon." Maybe you could use that. Everyone loves a good sequel, especially one 10 years in the making (I know, I was shocked to learn that your greatest hit is entering it's decade mark as well) so maybe you could have some sort of "Thong song II" or "Dragon Summer" I don't know. Give me something for God's sake.

R. Kelly-I know you've been *ahem* busy, with your trials and your trapped in the closet sagas, but I used to start subconsiously swaying whenever I'd hear the sweet intro to Remix to Ignition. I don't actually recall the first Ignition song, if there ever was one. The great thing about a remix is you can mix it all over again. maybe you could just release the same exact single under a different title. Who cares-I'm desperate here.

Beyonce - I remember the first time I hear a music tone ringtone. It was Andi Till's new motorolla, and I was sitting in the chapter room at the Chi Omega house. I remember thinking how great technology was, after hearing the sweet sound of "Baby Boy" digitized and made into a small file (an mp-what?!) Sure, you haven't exactly stopped. You put out that single about boxes to the left, and something about single ladies, but things just haven't been the same. Where's that Sean Paul/Beyonce duo I've so long waited for? Help a single lady out!

Will Smith - you just ought to be ashamed of yourself. Summertime is one the most amazing songs (and my current ringtone) on the summer jam market to this day. Just because you didn't disappear into obscurity like SOME people on that track doesn't mean you can bank off of that forever. I need some big Willy style, but preferably circa 1988. How am I supposed to be chillin out maxin relaxin all cool shootin some bball outside of the school without it?

And finally, Jay Z-you're arguably my favorite. "big pimpin'" pretty much completes my life. It was the original "I'm on a boat" and way before you ever met your lady love, so you were, in fact, big pimpin' at that time. As you say in the song, "I got no patience. I hate waitin'" so give me another summer jam before I have to resort to dusting the dirt off of your old singles instead of my shoulder.

So come on guys,

you can't have completely dropped off the face of the planet. Sisqo, your hair alone acts like a beacon of hope. Please fellas (and Beyonce), help me make this summer mix, or at least 2010's mix a memorable one.

Love,
Dominique

To bum, or not to bum: That is the question

So the summer is fast approaching (just kidding, it's definitely already here) and with this summer comes a few kind of big decisions to make.

First of all, I need to cut my nails. This isn't so much a decision as a revelation I am making right this very moment as I am struggling to type.

Anyway, really first of all, I need to decide when I want to say my final goodbyes to the ol' Axcan Pharma. My lease ends August 18th, so the original plan was to work through August 14th to maximize my income until I'm moving home and being possibly jobless until only God knows when.

Now things have started to reach the pinacle of unbearable crappiness at my job, and I want out more than ever. This combined with the fact that manfriend Chris will be off the entire month of July and we want to spend a good three to 4 days with his dad in Tennessee, makes me start to wonder if I could cut the financials ties that bind a little bit sooner.

Realistically, I could survive. My income is fairly predictable, and my expenses aren't usually too far off month to month. If I budgeted correctly, and was really, really good about not being frivolous, I could possibly quit mid-July, and survive until I moved home.

This would also give me ample opportunity to search for a job, seeing as I would not have to take time off of work to interview. AND I wouldn't be praying to the powers that be that my bosses approve my vacation time (remember when I said I wanted to go to Tennessee? easier said than done with these b's) So why am I not jumping at this opportunity to get some much needed vacation free time with my boo? A few reasons:

1)whilst I told you I could survive until I got home, the reality of it is that I may not survive much longer after that jobless and penniless. I have student loans, credit cards, cell phone bills people. Working that extra month would give me a very nice cushion until I'm back in the steady line of income.

2)I have amazing insurance that I don't want to lose just yet. I have a prescription drug plan that means anything I need is $15 or less right now. Seeing as I've caught everything but the plague recently, I'm holding on to that for dear, dear life.

3)yeah my job sucks, but it has for a long, long time. It's not like I can't handle it.

4)Even though Christopher has to start back work August 1, I will be living in the same city as him two weeks following. Our usual need to plan weeks in advance to see eachother will be non-existent soon enough.

5) I do still have vacation time left. 6 days to be exact. Which means if I put in enough advance notice, I could more than likely still make the Tennessee trip AND get paid for it in July.

So now you see my issue. Both options work. Both have good points and bad points.

I'm headed to the homestead this weekend, so Chris and I will talk about it then. He, of course, wants to spend as much time with me as possible, but I have other things to think about. Any suggestions would be appreciated from my few devoted followers!

Until next time...

If you hadn't gone tomorrow, you could have stayed on 'till June

This summer will you....
1..Dye your hair? Highlight it, yes. Nothing like a blonde in the summertime! Right, Joy?

2. Get a tan, or burn? tan..kind of. I accepted my paleness a long time ago, and I think I look a little strange being really tan. I'll go for a little color.

3. Go on vacation/trip? I hope so. I have a few ideas with Chris. We want to visit his dad in Tennessee and his brother in Denver.

4. Go camping? This one is happening for sure! We're going the few days before Eva's wedding/my birthday weekend. We're going to go kayaking or canoing, and cook hotdogs and make smores. I'm so excited!

5. Plant flowers? Eh, I live in an apartment, so I doubt it

6. Play in the sprinkler? I wanted to do the slip n slide again this year, but I hurt soooo badly after last year, and let's face it-I don't bounce back like I used to.

7. Have a job? yes, the same one I do everyday. But we do get summer hours now so I'll be off at noon on fridays!

8.Go on any road trips? not sure if we'll be driving to visit Denver or Tennessee but I doubt it.

9. Do anything with your family?
I'm sure. I go home a lot, and I plan to spend some beach time with my sisters

10. Do anything with your friends? All the time! We'll have Eva's bachelorette party, wine down thursdays, movie nights, J. Clydes....and Joy will be here for some of it! hoooooray!

11. Spend your money or save it?hmmmm......pass. <------------same!

12. Do anything you’ve never done before? go camping! I can't believe I've never been. I have a feeling it's going to be great!

13. Who will you spend the most time with? It will be divided among Chris, Katie, Lucy, the Joys, Sarah, my sisters, my nieces and pug.


14. Anything you’re not looking forward to? working on pretty days...but hey, you gotta make a living, right?


15. Favorite food on the bbq: hamburgers, especially my dad's

16. Favorite summer drink: icees. hands down.

17. What do you look forward to when summer comes? summer hours at work, beach and pool time, warm nights and eating outside. Summer clothes, of course


18. Would you rather it be winter? That would be a big fat NO

19. How many times will you hit the beach? hopefully a lot more than I did last summer

20. Do you go camping? I am going to this summer!

21. Flip flops or shoes? Flip flops, always.

22. River or pool? Pool, the Gulf and a lake.

23. Shorts or dresses? I love summer dresses!

24. Favorite summer treats? cool-pops (or pop ice, flavor-ice, whatever you want to call it)

25. Favorite summer memories? memorial day weekend last year at the condo with the fam, going to Jack Johnson and Dave with Sarah in Atlanta, generally just everything about it!