The Participation Trophy Everyone's a Winner Generation

  If you haven't listened to it already here it is, Adam Carolla's rant about the Occupy Wall Street Generation. In one word, it's INCREDIBLE. For my Advertising 480: Issues and Ethics class my psychotic I'M ALL HYPED UP ON MOUNTAIN DEW liberal professor assigned us a paper on Occupy Wall Street explaining how the movement connected to the definition of an institution laid out in our textbook, which SHE wrote. I think I blew out of the classroom with fire coming out of my ears when class was over. This wasn't what I was paying for. I think I even went as far as to call mom and dad and tell them I was just gonna take the 0 on the paper because I wasn't doing it. NO, actually I DID call them and warn them of my impending F. Side Note: I may have been referred to a tad bit dramatic since the age of 4, maybe 3 So, since I wasn't going to sabotage myself my senior year by failing a 1 page paper, I wrote the stupid thing, but on my terms. Oh I connected it to her book's definition of institution but not without getting my jabs in there too. And of course I did the GOP proud by doing some research on the Occupy Movement, after all these occupiers were part of my generation I'm embarrassed to say. And that is how I found Mr. Carolla's video and sent it to my mom along with 79 other people. SO where am I going with this...well this past Friday I finally got my ass out of the house and went to go see the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises it was with my little brother but who cares, we look nothing alike, people probably thought I was on a date HA. To make a long rant short the villain of the movie, Bane, is pretty much the Occupy Wall Street movement as a bald man with giant muscles and OF COURSE some dramatic past I didn't feel sorry for him, I have no soul. The mob that follows Bane wants to take from the rich, give to "the people", and put the 1% on trial. I had already read a couple articles via mom that talked about the liberal v. conservative undertones in the movie and therefore wore my College Republicans shirt to the movie I swear the GOP should pay me. In the end Batman beat Occupy Wall Street Gotham version and Hines Ward ran the kickoff back for a touchdown before the field caved in even though he's a WR not special teams. The movie was eh, the political theme was dead on. My political rant was done for the day.
   THEN came last night's women's all-around gymnastics qualifying round. And as the ENTIRE WORLD now knows Jordyn Wieber did NOT make the final round. She didn't make it by like .234 some ridiculous tenth of point and then she proceeded to cry and sob on national television. I would vote the MOST awkward moment of these entire games will be when the genius NBC lady was interviewing the girl who DID make the final round Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber was in the background wiping snot on her leotard. It's ridiculous, it really is. I competed in dance, we lost, I threw crying fits in the bathroom. I UNDERSTAND. But it's your own fault you didn't make it. She stepped out on floor, teetered on beam...this wasn't a conspiracy. So here we go with the Participation Trophy Everyone's a Winner generation theme, it's time for the press to start congratulating and talking about the two young women who DID make the final round for the USA. Stop making Jordyn Wieber a victim. The Olympic twitter account needs to tweet congratulations to Gabby and Aly and NOT tweeting about "RT if you think Jordyn Weiber should be added to the top 24." I would love to hear Adam Carolla's views on this drama but for now I'll just quote a classic Three Stooges episode "this [house] is sho done crazy."
  So there's my caffeine/Excel spreadsheet overload induced rant for the day. I have come to really love blogging and I hope y'all enjoy reading them. Please pass them along to your friends and a huge thank you to my sweet friend Mary Clarie for her precious tweet this morning calling my blog inspiring. I'll be on the look out for some more shambly topics to write about soon. 

A Rare Breed

  Let's start by getting one thing clear, I am far from politically correct. I say what I think. This past week the entire county went  bat shit nuts over Chick-fil-A's statement on what charities they donate to. I have my opinion on the issue I will spare you from that rant and you probably have yours and that is all fine and dandy. But what inspired me to blog on this topic is the fact that my (our) generation likes to spout off about whatever issue they hear a snippet about on CNN without reading/researching/forming an educated decision about the issue themselves! Within the past two weeks I been told various times that young republicans are a rare breed/hard to find. Yeah, I'm gonna have to beg to differ. 


  Now let's remember it was our generation who "Rocked the Vote" in 2008 and elected our current president I'm not even gonna say his name and here we are in 2012 looking shambley as hell. I don't care if P. Diddy personally shows up at your house wearing his Rock the Vote t-shirt he was probably PAID to wear telling you ALL about who you should vote for in November, show yourself some respect and do your own research on the candidates. And that does NOT mean following CNN on Twitter, or Fox News to make this a fair politically correct blah blah statement. Yesterday on Facebook I saw a status talking about how this person couldn't wait to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies that night with our athletes in Chinese made berets. Okay, first of all they opening ceremonies are TONIGHT and secondly Ralph Lauren released a statement about the uniform controversy weeks ago and the uniforms were "recalled" and every beret the athletes will be wearing tonight were made in America. READ THE NEWS, my Lord. So let me wrap this thing up I could go on... Young Republicans are not a rare breed, young Republicans who are vocal about their beliefs are.  This is not the time to be sensitive and not wanting to offend anyone. Yes, I have a Republican Tervis tumbler but if I only use it at home/hide it in my office what's the point. I'm taking that thing to Tuesday morning production meetings and will proudly say I am a registered Republican, was a member of College Republicans, and will wear Red and cast my Vote for the GOP in November. I have read Decision Points by George W. Bush along with reading political articles everyday about the current administration and what they're doing to this country and how it will affect MY children. I am an educated young person who can carry on a conversation about politics and pays for my own medical insurance Mr. NObama that's as close as I'm getting to saying his name and I will ROCK THE VOTE my own way come November. And that's all I have to say about that. 

Don't forget to fall in love with yourself first

  There has always been the age old question my momma will ask me from time to time after one of my always colorful rants, "Are you happy?" It's a really easy question to say NO to, I've done it many a time without really thinking it through. But at the end of the day, my answer should always be, without hesitation, yes. Why? Because I have an incredible job, two parents who love me more than love itself, a pretty great laugh, and I didn't get my daddy's nose. Being a 20 something young woman and professional in the South can be hard, heck it's hard anywhere. But down here you've got 79 engagements a day and parents including "he's saving for an engagement ring" in their after Sunday mass rant/update of their son. I have given up on trying to hide my eye roll. So instead I'm going to share an incredible article one of my best friends found and posted on my wall, 21 Secrets for your 20's. I literally sat in my office nodding my head at my computer screen while reading it on my lunch break. So for all you 20 something young women/professionals and even you college ladies (cherishhhhhh those last moments) read it, take notes on it, bookmark it, print it off and tape it up on your bathroom mirror. I included the link to the article at the end of my post, but first here are my favorite five from this all inspiring article. And you know I'm printing this sucker off and reading it the next time one of you losers gets engaged (if you know me you know I'm kidding about the "losers" part, kind of) 

3. Feel no shame in seeking help from a counselor or therapist. We all have crap we try to wrap and hide under the Christmas tree. Get rid of it before it smells up your entire holiday.
14. Don’t ever begin dating someone you first met whilst in swimsuits. Doubly-don’t if you’re both in swimsuits whilst holding an alcoholic beverage.

8. Every break up has two break ups. I’m no physicist, but this is a law of physics, of this I am certain. Yes you’ll have the first tearful “It’s over” sitting in the front seat of your Honda or on a park swing. Then 1-2 months later after there’s “been talk”, you’ll have the “real breakup” because she forgets to call like she used to or he checks out the waitress like he’s a judge for Miss USA. And gird those loins because in the second breakup there will be a lot more breaking.


15. Obsessive Comparision Disorder is the smallpox of our generation. 9 out of 10 doctor’s agree this disorder is the leading cause to eating a whole sleeve of Oreo’s while watching Real Housewives of OC. Say no to obsessive comparison disorder before it starts. Remember everyone’s too busy putting a PR spin on their Facebook profile to care much about yours.


5. Don’t ever, ever check Facebook when you’re:



A. Depressed


B. Drinking.


C. Depressed and Drinking.


D. Unemployed.


E. Anytime after 9:17 pm.

F. Struggling with being blessed with singleness while all your friends seem to be blessed with 2.4 kids and that blazing white-picket-fence shining with the glory of Jesus Christ himself

http://allgroanup.com/adult/21-secrets-for-your-20s/

It's Caroline, ... like the song

I mean is there a better
picture to describe me?

   Tomorrow is July Staff meeting, which means.....NEW HIRE PRESENTATIONS!! If you know me, or even if you don't, you should know by now I'm a talker. Our entire family is, even the dog talks (no I'm not kidding.) I was born on June 8th and therefore have a small numerical obsession with the numbers 6 and 8. So being the clever advertising professional I am I decided to talk for 68 minutes. JUST KIDDING. But really I could if I had to, no problem. No no, instead I'm doing "8 Fun Facts About Me" and a Pinterest treat You know I had to, I am the Social Media Queen after all (self-proclaimed but whatever). Now these fun facts are nothing compared to the clues I gave my little during reveal week she thought I was a freak by reveal day but they paint a pretty good picture of me. So here we go, 
Fact 1: I have been to more countries than U.S. states (Italy, France, Hungary, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria) v. (Alabama, Florida, Nevada, Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York).
Fact 2: I ran the Country Music Half Marathon (2 hours 12 minutes, lost one toe nail) and plan to run my next one in November.
Fact 3: My little brother and I were born in the same hospital room, four years apart. 
Fact 4: Courtland Finnegan bought my 21st birthday lunch.
Fact 5: We bought our house from Conway Twitty's wife, lived down the street from Johnny Cash and Marty Stewart, and in 2002 Andy Griffith almost bought our house.
Fact 6: I was the third across the stage at college graduation and walked out of my heel twice.
Fact 7: I am a HUGE Steelers fan. I cried during the 2011 Superbowl, Ryan Clark has RT'd me, and the Steelers follow me on Twitter ( and I mayyyyy have called a Packers fan "fat" during the Steelers/Broncos playoff game this year but why was he even there anyway?)
Fact 8: My monogram is CPR but I'm not CPR certified. 


And why am I still single?? 

This is the part of me...

  How do I start this post off, hmmmm. Well let's see, a year ago about this time I had every intention of being engaged by now. And now I can't even imagine that. If you've read my blog you've probably caught on that I mention a certain boy in some posts I've never been called subtle before. The break up was nasty. He has since moved on, I have not. Don't get me wrong I rebounded, I'm just not seriously dating my rebound rookie mistake. One of his friends got married this weekend. Funny story about his particular couple: the night they got engaged  he was there, and 6 hours later he was breaking up with me. So in true Caroline fashion I got myself all worked up knowing he and his new person were in town and what they were here for. So I decided after driving home half in tears half screaming /singing that I would step outside of my monogrammed comfort zone and go see Katy Perry's new movie, by myself. My mom used to tell me about how when she was in her 20s and single she used to go get lunch, go to the movies, and do all sorts of things by herself. I may be biased here, but my mother is amazing. She has always done things her way, knowing things would happen when they were suppose to. And she landed my dad and this incredible life, so I'll trust her word on this one. 

   After dinner I quietly grabbed my purse and keys and headed off to the movies. I'm sure no one else in line noticed I was there by myself but I felt like everyone was staring at me, like this poor girl has no life or friends and is here by herself. Theater 14 was my destination and with my 3-D glasses on I settled in for one of the most inspiring 90 minutes of my summer. Let me get this out there now, I cried. When this movie comes out on DVD  I will buy it, watch it, and probably cry again. I will be a Katy Perry fan for life. Warning: it's not just a concert, fun candy costumes, behind the scenes footage movie. It is for real her life for 395 days. You watch her break the f down and not even be able to go on stage. You watch her go numb when her marriage breaks down. And you watch her do the damn thing on stage night after night no matter what. She made every meet and greet. She's just amaze. More than one of "our" songs were Katy Perry songs, vivid vidid memories attached to these things. And as life is SO ironic at times, Part of Me was the song playing when my gate got up to the start line at the half-marathon in April. So it's fitting that this would be the movie I would go see by myself. And even though I will probably still get worked up every now and then about this moron and how it's not fair that he moved on and I haven't because it's not fair but I will always smile when I think about walking out of the theater by myself Friday night. My life is absolutely incredible. I have the job, car, friends, watch, family, dog, pool, and legs to prove it. Thank you Katy Perry for reminding me of this. 

"But that was then and this is now. Now look at me." 

The Hills: Nashville

  I promised myself that even after exciting life events such as graduating college and running a half marathon passed I would still continue to blog. Blog about #postgradproblems, "being 22 and single in the South" problems, or just day to day "why won't this person let me merge??" problems. So far, it's been a fail. But here I am, back at it and ready to go, hoping not to completely bore you with my posts simply about life. So where did I leave off? Oh yeah, Joe had graduated high school and I had just completed the first week of the rest of my life. 

Highlights of the past month: 

I now have a budget book. I have a lamp, cute file folders, a bright green calculator, and a picture/card holder in my office (everything else along with my 700 picture frames are in Knoxville...). Finally picked my next half-marathon, November take your time getting here. AND got my socks knocked off when mom SURPRISED me with my Micheal Kors watch for my birthday!

Things I have learned over the past month: 

I go through about 2 things of mascara a month. It is possible to go to bed before 11pm. Norts (Nike Shorts for you out of the loop people) are now a cherished item. And NOTHING beats coming home to dinner and a wild midget dog licking your legs. 

Some BOHAN fun facts: 

Me running past my office during the half marathon!

I am the first employee to ever be hired who was born after 1989. I wasn't even born when the agency was founded. We have one of the coolest locations and buildings in Nashville. Oh and I'm up next for New Hire Presentations at staff meeting this month, no pressure no pressure. In addition to not knowing what I'm wearing for my presentation I also have no idea what I'm going to say/do. Some ideas include My top 5 Twitter moments, 10 fun facts you'd never guess about me, and of course making something from Pinterest. Whatever I decide to do I'm sure it will include a minimum of two "I'm pretty but awkward" moments. But so is life. OH, and don't worry I plan on doing a post on my presentation, I know you all can't wait!

All in all I've got to say "The Hills: Nashville" is shaping up to have a pretty amazing season. I've got some amazing friends, my dream job, a crazy family, and a gorgeous watch. Watch out people VW Bug with a dancing flower in it merging into the traffic of real life! I'm sure future posts will include rantings on boys, people getting married/engaged WAY too early/young, and the antics of apartment shopping with momma. Stay tuned.......