It really baffles me...

While I was on Twitter this morning, I came across this infuriating story:

http://deadspin.com/5120694/let-me-tell-you-something-about-birmingham-alabama?t=9733573#viewcomments

All this from a person who hasn't even been to Birmingham. I couldn't help myself...I had to post.

Bless your heart. YOU are the one who is ignorant for writing this story. WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE LAUGHING, YOU SCHMUCK.

I've lived in the Midwest and I've also lived in San Francisco (which is amazing). But I choose to live in Birmingham because it's a great town (with great restaurants and shopping and great people) and it stays under the radar from idiots like you.

I would much rather live in the South where people have manners and class than up North with the gel head guidos (and the trashy girls who love them) who don't have a shred of taste to save their lives. For all of you other haters who have made comments, keep on thinking you're so superior and please don't ever come to Birmingham and dirty up our city.

It just really irks me when people look down on Birmingham (and the South in general) thinking it's a backward, racist place. Don't get me wrong, there certainly are people/cities in the South that do fit that profile, which is a shame. But there are places like that all over this country.

Now I know people tend to romanticize the South, myself included. And I know that Tara is a fictional place. But there is still a certain charm and grace about the South that no other region possesses. People here still cherish tradition and the old ways. I think the rest of this country could use some manners.

I have come to a conclusion: I am a hedonist. (Hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure is of ultimate importance, the most important pursuit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonist) Another reason I love the South--people in the South love the pleasures in life! Good food and drink, being with friends and family, our weather is wonderfully warm (well ok the humidity sucks)--the simple things. Southerners move at a slower pace, which I view as a good thing in this hectic techno-crazed world. Will you please tell me what is more fun than an Alabama football Saturday and drinking? Answer: Nothing.

I feel qualified to speak on this issue because I've lived above and below the Mason-Dixon line, and I've traveled quite a bit. I may be biased because I was born in Alabama but I grew up a Midwesterner, basically. The funny thing is, I never felt like I connected with Indiana. I always knew I'd come back to Alabama--something that baffled my family. I'm SO glad I did. While I still loooove traveling and occasionally get the urge to live elsewhere, I feel like I've finally found the right place for me. My niche, if you will.

Warm Introduction

In my rush to start blogging I forgot to tell a little bit about myself. I'm 23 years old and I live in Birmingham, Alabama. I graduated from The University of Alabama in 2007 and I currently work at an Advertising/Public Relations agency.

I was born in Gadsden, Alabama but I've lived in several different places. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and I graduated high school in Carmel, Indiana. After I graduated my family moved to San Francisco. I went off to college at Alabama and loved it so much I decided to move to Birmingham after graduation. My boyfriend, Preston, is from Bham so he was also a factor in that decision :)

Preston (P) and me at my stepbrother's wedding in Virginia.

I have 2 sisters and I'm the middle child. I also have a stepbrother and stepsister whom I consider my natural siblings. I love having a big family!

Here's a picture of my dad, my younger sister Laura, me at age 3-4, and my older sister Amanda.


With my mom at my college graduation dinner at Kozy's in Tuscaloosa.

Right...I think that's all for now. Mind you this is a very brief synopsis. I'm sure we'll get into much more detail at a later date.

I am now a blogger

Here it is, my first blog. The idea of starting a blog came to me after many days of sitting in my cube at work researching social media--mainly Twitter. Finally, it occurred to me...I'm on Facebook, I'm on Twitter...why don't I have a blog yet? I enjoy reading other people's musings so I decided to do one myself (and recruited my good friend Lauren to join me on this blogging journey).

As Lauren (see Lauren's Lovesit Life) blogged, the goal is to get the creative juices flowing and see where they lead. Hopefully for the both of us this will lead to successful blogs, numerous book deals--which will also be turned into blockbuster hits--and early retirement, so we can pursue other interests like traveling, fine dining, entertaining and shopping.

The next upcoming event is New Year's and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Lauren and I, along with our friend Meghan and my boyfriend Preston, will be heading down to NOLA tomorrow to ring in 2009 and cheer on the Tide against Utah. I'm sure there will be much to blog about after our adventure!