humor

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

TrishLeave a comment

I haven’t read Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, but after Finding Audrey, I think I need to!  I loved Kinsella’s humor, inclusion of pop culture, and honest portrayal of mental disorders.

Audrey suffers from a host of anxiety disorders after a (presumably) horrendous bullying experience.  Although I understand the right of a person to not have to share why they struggle, it’s a book!  I want to know why!  This was the one thing I didn’t like about the story.  I can only assume Kinsella thought that no matter her description of bullying, some reader would scoff that it wasn’t that bad.  As it is, our imaginations are free to run wild.

While Kinsella doesn’t tell us exactly what caused Audrey’s panic attacks and anxiety, she does a phenomenal job showing how these disorders play out in her life.  Kinsella doesn’t glamorize her anxiety, nor does she make Audrey into a caricature of a human being.  Instead, she honestly describes the fear, growth, and healing that comes in a person working through their issues with the help of a loving family and a knowledgeable counselor.  And a cute boy.  Because it is a YA novel, and cute boys never hurt.  Continue reading →

Video Rec: HeyUSA Season 2

TrishLeave a comment

Last summer, I fell in love with HeyUSA, a video series about Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart traveling around the United States in order to wear weird outfits, drink a lot of alcohol, and participate in hilarious adventures.  I wrote a blog post about it!  When I found out there would be a second season, I was pumped.  When I found out Grace wouldn’t be in it, I avoided the videos for two months.  It just couldn’t be the same, I whined.  But in a moment of desperation (aka boredom), I caved.  And I’m so glad I did!   Continue reading →

StumbleUpon Sunday (2)

TrishLeave a comment

StumbleUpon is a giant collection of the best pages on the Internet.

StumbleUpon is a great way to lose hours of your life.  Luckily, I braved the Internet vortex so you don’t have to.  This week I found these especially interesting websites:

  1. This is what happened when a photographer came face-to-face with one of Antarctica’s most vicious predators
  2. 14 Hacks That’ll Help the Laziest Person Host a Dinner Party
  3. Just Puppies:  Pure Breed Information
  4. 23 Best Movies on Netflix You Haven’t Seen Yet
  5. 10 Popular Books for Teen Boys
  6. A Guy Photoshops Celebrities Into All His Holiday Party Photos
  7. 10 Unusual Beaches You Have Never Heard Of
  8. 10 Most Beautiful Views From the Top of Famous Landmarks
  9. 15 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt
  10. Family Tree of the Greek Gods

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

TrishLeave a comment

Let the autobiographies of funny famous people keep rolling in!  I continue to be entertained and enlightened by these memoirs (including those by Neil Patrick Harris, Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, and Rob Delaney).  Amy Poehler’s memoir is a combination of autobiography and essay compilation, a choice that frustrated me until I accepted the decision and found myself really enjoying her book.

The chapters are not chronological, nor is this anywhere close to an attempt to share her whole life.  Sometimes she digresses from her main point to share a particularly funny or juicy anecdote.  Although this is not the best from a writing standpoint, it makes the book feel more like a conversation.  Reading Yes Please is like talking to an excited Amy Poehler who wants you to know about this, and oh yeah, this thing happened too!  Continue reading →

How to Cope with Anxiety in an Airport

TrishLeave a comment

Sometime around 36 hours before my trip began, anxiety hit.  Before then, when people asked if I was nervous about going to Athens, I could genuinely chuckle and say, “Nah.  I’ve been there before.  I know what I’m doing.  It’s going to be intense but fun!”  I don’t know what changed, but 36 hours ago, all my unacknowledged anxiety came rushing into consciousness.

This is it.  This is the beginning of the next step in my life.  I’m going to visit the city that will soon be my home.  I’m going to hang out with the people who will soon be my coworkers and (hopefully) friends.  What if I hate the city?  What if everyone I meet hates me?  What if I’ve made a terrible decision, but I can’t take it back because then I’d look ridiculous?  What if I do back out but it’s a choice made out of fear and I miss out on an amazing opportunity?  What if everything goes wrong and I trip on my face five times and no one speaks English and I sit alone in a corner the whole time?

Clearly action needed to be taken.  Here are some tips (I may or may not have done) to cope with anxiety while in an airport:  Continue reading →