Best of 09: Conferences & Satan's Pop-Tart

I'm still here. Still strong. Still freezing (it's 12 freaking degrees here in Boulder).

Today's prompt for the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:

December 6th: Workshop or Conference. Was there a conference or workshop that you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?

I think that it's kind of cool that I can actually answer this question in the affirmative. Obviously I had some "especially beneficial" experiences in Nashville and Chicago this year because those experiences have already been written about during this challenge.

I didn't necessarily learn a lot about blogging, per se. What I learned was a lot about myself. What I got were some great memories and even better friends.

Sounds pretty good to me.

In other news, I burned myself on a toaster pastry this morning. It was like the devil's pop-tart, it was so hot. I may not have any lasting scars or blisters on the outside, but my psyche is severely damaged.

I write about it because nobody that I've told today has really taken it seriously. I guess this is because I wasn't technically that hurt and still have full function of my hand, but it was horrific, nonetheless.

Thanks for listening. I knew y'all would understand.

Best of 09: Best Night Out

Today's prompt for the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge is:

December 5th: Night Out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?

I've already written about it here.

It was in Chicago.

Jenny the Bloggess was there.

So was Ali.

Megan from Velveteen Mind stopped by.

The wonderful Stiletto Mom, Mary Anne said some kind words to me.

George declared me his hero for introducing him to Jenny.

Even Jen Lancaster made an appearance.

And, of course, Nancy W. Kappes (paralegal) was there.

Awesome.

Another great night was last month with Mike an AH-MAZE-ING Regina Spektor concert.

Regina Spektor |MTV Music

It was the best concert that I've been to in a long time, and every song was incredible. The hours and hours (and hours) spent sitting on the hardest concrete ever (and the subsequent sore ass that was a result) was totally worth it when we scored the most perfect spot for the show: front row, able to see her play the piano, and right in front of her keyboard and guitar.


The night was even better when she seamlessly told a rude concert goer to "shut the fuck up" in the middle of one of her songs.

Can you say "hero"?

Best of 09: Favorite Book(s)

I'm kicking ass and taking names on this whole Best of 2009 Blog Challenge. I've made it two days, which is some sort of personal best.

I should get a medal... or a cookie.

At least a cookie.

December 4th: Book. What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

My goal for this year was to read 50 books. I am on my 43rd.

(Therefore, December is also dubbed "Don't bother Ally because she has a god damn goal to finish".)

The books that I've read this year have varied from classics and great works of literature to overrated best-sellers and trashy fantasy.

My favorite? I can't list one. Thankfully, I've kept track of all of the books that I've read since January 1st, so I'll list the ones that stand out to me the most.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - This is a book that I've thought a lot about. I didn't love it at first, but it's grown on me a lot.

Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster - I finished this book at Blissdom, hours before I actually met Jen. It was a hilarious book, and my copy now holds a note from the author herself.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - I'm a twelve year old boy.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - AWESOME. It's romantic and full of zombie killing mayhem. What could be bad?

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - I read The Hunger Games in 2008 and it instantly earned a spot on my "favorite books of all time" shelf. This year, the sequel, Catching Fire, came out, so I read them both. Sooooo good.

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning - These books are kept in the romance section at the bookstore, so if you see someone ducking into that section with sunglasses, an over sized parka and a wig, it might be me. But shame cannot keep me from these trashy sci-fi stories.

The Twilight Saga - 1) Since 2007, I've read the series four times (only once this year). 2) It's still awesome. 3) TEAM EDWARD. 4) Duh.

I'm in the process of finishing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's absolutely amazing and certainly earns a spot on this list.

These books have been given as gifts, shared with family and friends, blogged about, or discussed in front of a hundred fellow geeks.

Now leave me alone... I have a New Year's Resolution to finish up.

Best of 09: Let's Get it Started

During the month of December, the Social Media Maven Gwen Bell has set out the challenge to reflect on the past 12 months through blogging and twitter.

Well, I always like a challenge.

(LIE. I hate a challenge, but I've decided to suck it up and do this one.)

So I decided to join the growing number of awesome bloggers and participate in the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge.

I figure it's a good way to review the year, and it'll bring me up to 200 posts on this here blog.

Gwen has posted a prompt for each day of December on her blog, and I'm three days late (go figure), so here are my answers to the first three questions:

December 1st: Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?

I've thought a lot about this, and my best trip wasn't the most relaxing or most fun. In fact, I spent an amazing amount of time hiding in my hotel room, crying and downing gratuitous amounts of anti-anxiety medication. I ended up having some really great moments, but overall, my trip to Nashville in February was a tad stressful.

So why would this be my pick for "Best Trip of 2009"? When I went to Nashville for Blissdom '09, it was a huge step for me. I had never been anywhere by myself. I had never had to ride a plane with nobody to hold my hand, or stay in a city where I didn't know a single person.

It was just me.

And I survived. It opened doors for me, because surviving Blissdom allowed me to survive BlogHer, where I had some amazing experiences. It gave me an opportunity to meet some awesome people, who I'm thrilled to call my friends.

It might not have been the "best" trip, but it was the best for me.

December 2nd: Restaurant Moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What tastes stand out in your mind?

You know when you go to a restaurant and sit down near a family and suddenly realize that you should move because that family won't stop laughing or talking about inappropriate things or cussing too loud or being generally annoying?

Yeah, that's my family. So I have a lot of great restaurant experiences.

But for 2009, the first thing that comes to mind is the restaurant that Mike took me to for my birthday in August. It was a place in Denver that we had never been named Potager. All of the food is bought from local farms, and the menu is constantly changing to reflect what's in season.

We sat in the beautiful courtyard in the back, and it was very relaxing.

(Even when the hostess spilled my Prosecco (I'm fancy) and broke the glass.)

(It happens.)

But what do I remember the most? What makes it stand out in my mind? Was it the twinkling lights in the courtyard, or the warmth from a lovely August evening in Colorado, or stealing bites from Mike's meal?

No...

It was the whole Colorado peach that was cooked, hollowed out and stuffed with blue cheese and other deliciousness, wrapped in fancy bacon.

That? Was pure awesomeness... wrapped in bacon...

December 3rd: Best Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away?

It's a hard question to answer because there's just so much news out there.

You know what? Just read The New Yorker and you can find some of the year's best there.

Mmmkay?

Well, that, and the article about Robert Pattinson in Vanity Fair last month.

Duh.

(Note to self: try not to wait and answer three questions in one day because by the third you get bored and your blood sugar starts to dip so you don't take the time to answer the questions. Bad Ally.)

(Note to readers: if you want to join in on the fun, visit Gwen's site to learn more.)

(Another note to readers: The chocolate chip advent calendar was a huge success. I should get an award for that baby.)

I am? Crafty.

Yesterday I was at the drugstore and I saw Advent Calendars.

I was immediately flooded with images of my childhood: anxiously waiting for dinner to end so that my brother and I could open the little cardboard door for that date and find the little, delicious chocolate treat.

Me: AJ!! I found Advent Calendars! Do you remember those? When did Mom and Dad stop giving us those?

AJ: Probably at the appropriate age to stop being so excited about Advent Calendars.

Me: Asshole.

Last night I was so excited to open the little door labeled "1".

I opened it up, removed the little piece of chocolate shaped like a little present, and...

...it tasted like crap.

Seriously... it crumpled in my mouth, tasted like glue, and burned going down my throat.

Stupid childhood memories bought for $1.50.

BUT, instead of being sad and throwing away my dreams about having an advent calendar this year, I got my creativity on.

Ally B Speakin' Presents:

ALLY B'S AWESOME SOLUTION TO HER CRAPPY ADVENT CALENDAR

Step 1: Get crappy advent calendars for 2 for $3.

Mine:

Mike's:

Step 2: Gather your supplies. You'll need some new, edible candy to replace the crappy shit. You'll also need some tape.

All I have on hand are generic semi-sweet chocolate chips... so be it.

Step 3: Remove crappy candy.

Dispose of the crappy candy responsibly, like in your leftover breakfast.

Step 4: Put good candy (or generic semi-sweet chocolate chips) in the empty spaces.

It's important to keep a sense of excitement and surprise, so mix up how many chocolate chips you put in each space.

But make it more that one chocolate chip, because if you open it up and see only one lonely chocolate chip... well, that's a sad day for everyone.

Step 5: Close them back up. It's preferable to use clear tape because duct tape is just stupid looking... and super glue probably isn't the best idea.

There, I just saved your holiday memories.

You're welcome.

It Must be the Shoes...

(I don't know why I'm still writing about Lady Gaga... apparently my life now revolves around the woman...)

Lady Gaga |MTV Music

Me: I have been working all day to learn the dance from the "Bad Romance" video, and I just can't do it!! You know, the dance she does during the chorus? In 5 inch heals? Maybe that's my problem: flat feet.

Mike: I'm so sorry.

Me: I know, right? I wouldn't think that it would be so hard, but I guess I'm just not cut out to be a Lady Gaga dancer...

Mike: Ally, stop it. You can be anything you want to be. You are amazing. Keep at it, and your dreams will come true.

Me: That's quite possibly the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

Mike: Well, I mean it. And once you learn the dance... you can teach it to me.

So THIS is a goal that he's behind 100 percent, but the whole Mariska Hargitay (MARISKA HARGITAY!!!) crime fighting turtle thing was just too "out there".

Sometimes, I just don't understand him.

Fighter

I learned something today.

When you send out a tweet or status update about attacking people, soon all you can do is think about attacking people.

I sent this out this afternoon:

Woman across from me at coffee shop has her pepper spray on the table. My plans to attack her have been destroyed. Today is a total waste.

Followed by this tweet 5 minutes later:

Not that I *wanted* to attack anyone, but now it's a little sad that the option isn't even there... #atleastImakemyselflaugh

And now it's been half an hour and I've spent the whole time staring at people wondering if I could take 'em out in a fight.

(I blame this on the fact that I just re-read The Twilight Saga (again) and have super strong vampires on the brain, and therefore wish that *I* was super strong... and possibly a vampire... shut up.)

(PS: IloveEdwardCullenOhMyGOD.)

(Don't tell Mike that... he's fairly annoyed with my undying love for a fictional vampire whose biggest fault is that he cares too much.)

(... MUST FOCUS...)

I have come to the conclusion that the majority of the patrons here would probably overtake me. Except for that 5 year old over there crying because his mom won't get him a cupcake (bitch)... or that dude in the over-sized cowboy hat. Either would probably be a fair match in a fight.

Maybe I should start putting my pepper spray on the table? And nunchucks... and at least one ninja throwing star (two would be tacky).

Then that 5 year old wouldn't stand a chance.

(Word of advice? Don't listen to Lady Gaga in public. It makes you dance and then your lethal aura is totally screwed. No amount of nunchucks and throwing stars can make up for a Lady Gaga performance (no matter how kick ass it is) in public.)

(I'm pretty sure no vampire would make that mistake.)

(You think I'm a loser for listening to Lady Gaga? Come on over here... I'll show you my nunchucks up close.)

(That was mean... if you're reading this blog I wouldn't attack you. I love you.)

(Wait?! I'm not a loser for loving Lady Gaga, but I am one for being madly in love obsessed appropriately interested in Twilight? I will DESTROY YOU.)

(Wow. That was totally uncalled for. I'm so, so sorry... sorta.)

(I think the five year old and the guy in the cowboy hat are plotting against me... or it's the caffeine affecting my judgment... hard to tell.)

(Or maybe they like my Poker Face performance? I think I need to leave.)

Lady Gaga |MTV Music