Single? Mingle + Sushi

I would feel a lot better about this if the age limit wasn't so high. I'm 25 and there's no way I'd date someone 40. If 40 year old men didn't hit on me I'd attend this. For those who are game, check out Tiger Sushi on July 27th. Cheap entry, great sushi, and free parking. What have you got to lose? Just make sure you register beforehand.

Bottle Bombs? *Sigh*

If you find one, call 911. 
Pass this on to everybody you
know. Anybody that sees a plastic bottle
in their yard would think nothing of picking it up to throw it away. Looks
like these things are starting to pop up around the US. Check the Snopes
web site below, it's pretty scary. Also think about this before you run
over a plastic bottle with your car.
1.  A plastic bottle with a cap
(Like a normal water bottle).
2.  A little Drano.
3.  A little water.
4.  A small piece of foil.
5.  Disturb it by moving it; and BOOM (Less than 30 seconds)!
6.  No fingers left, and other serious effects to your face, eyes, etc.
People are finding these bombs in mailboxes and in their
yards, just waiting for someone to pick it up intending to put it in the
trash.
It takes about 30 seconds to blow up after you move the thing.
See "SNOPES" below, it's true. This happened April 27,
2010.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp

Italy Loses We Win

Punch Pizza released this coupon today:

We meant to have the coupon be for winning the "Biggest Looser" competition - which they won (ok, tied with France - but close enough). Coupon is good today!

Italy clearly won "team that spent most time flopping around on the ground crying" competition - so the coupon is good!

Hockey Fun

There are the obvious reasons why I love the sport of hockey. It's fast and fun, there are breathtaking goals and bone crushing hits, the combination of agility and grace, and above all else, the players are good people. I am always amazed when people can't get into hockey. Aside from the actual sport, the players are so much better than any other sport. Want proof? This last playoff run saw the following:

• Eric Belanger lost 8 teeth and had a root canal and went back out and played.


• Duncan Keith lost 7 teeth and went back out and played.


• The biggest scandal wasn't a gun in the locker room, but rather Chris Pronger stealing the 'game puck' and tossing it away.


• Brooks Laich got eliminated in the first round and on his way home in his suit stopped to help a stranger with a flat tire.

These are just a few of the reasons my sport is amazing. Another one? The Stanley Cup and Blackhawks' player Brent Sopel will be marching in the Gay Pride Parade this weekend with Lord Stanley's Cup. Sopel is marching in memory of Leafs' GM Brian Burke's son Brendan Burke who came out and then was killed two months later in a car accident. Sopel will be marching alongside his wife and four kids.

"When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should," said Sopel. "We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from."

And on a lighter note some members of the NHL Draft Class of 2010 and some players will be on the red carpet for Twilight's Eclipse Premier. While many fans are groaning it's actually a great opportunity for the NHL to get a little press time. While discussing Twilight people go all Team Edward, Team Jacob and pitted Ovi v. Sid. This was interesting bc Ovi looks nothing like Edward, whereas Sid does look like Jacob. So here's a side by side of whom I think should represent Edward and of course Sid next to Jacob.

June YPOTC

Young Professionals of Twin Cities YPOTC

Tuesday's Networking Happy Hour at Fusion (formerly Zeno Wine Bar) in Uptown on June 8 from 5pm-9pm
Grab your business cards and a few friends and check out Fusion in uptown! If you took all the adjectives you could come up with to describe the Uptown neighborhood and tossed them in a blender, what you'd get is a wonderfully appealing concoction that is the essence of Uptown. Liberally splash this essence all over the corner of Hennepin and Lagoon and you get a comfortable, chic, eclectic, vibrant blend of great food and drinks with great atmosphere and nightlife – in a word, Fusion.

Additonal YPOTC Events!!!

Beer Brewing Basics June 29th 2010
Always wanted to try homebrewing your own beer, wine or cider but overwhelmed with where to start, what equipment is needed and have questions about exactly how it is done? Come to this informal learning session to get the basics and explanations from the experts.
Register by emailing Ypotc.educationevents@gmail.com Space is limited Cost : FREE!
Midwest Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies 5825 Excelsior Blvd. in Minneapolis, MN 55416

Big Brothers Big Sisters Recruiting Event at Stella's Tuesday, June 22

You Live, You Learn

One of my favorite quotes is: "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you appreciate them when they’re right...and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe. That Norma Jean sure knew a thing or two. The truth of life is this: Life is hard, not everything happens the way it's supposed to. Yes it's unfair, yes it's difficult, and yes sometimes it does suck. But there are those few shining moments, when the good guy gets the girl, the villian gets caught, and the little guy catches the break. Those breaks aren't given, they're earned. The sooner you understand that the sooner you can find happiness. Stop being the victim of your own life and start playing leading lady (or gentleman for that matter!)

Nothing is ever 'all your fault', that being said nothing is ever 'all their fault'. Every bad situation we have been in there is a lesson to be learned, a thing to gain, and a gut check to listen to next time around. Saying you got 'screwed over' isn't just a testimony of what the other person did to you, but also a confession that 'Yes, I got duped and I should have known better.' With the recent 'duping' I just mistakeningly allowed myself to get caught in, it reminds me of the 'duping' one year previous that I told myself I would learn from. These two lessons will cost me about five thousand dollars when all is said and done. And while the current lesson is about $450 of that $5,000 - the principle is the same. Trust yourself, check your gut, and remember people are self-serving.

If I am going to be the kick-butt person I always told myself I would be then it starts with me. It starts with the people I keep in my life; the way I treat them and the way I allow them to treat me. It starts with the understanding that it takes just as much work to be happy as it does to be miserable. It starts but it never ends, this is a process that isn't a quick fad diet for the soul, this is a life long decision to understand that similar to what you put in your body has long term effects on your health, so does who you allow to share your time with or give your energy to.

I've gotten screwed over by everyone from family to acquaintances. The one common factor is me. The only way not to get screwed over, is to screw people over first. KIDDING. The only way to not get screwed over, is to not accept less than you deserve. I've been a doormat to those I love, giving away of myself so willingly, giving my time, my energy, my compassion that I found myself at 25 years old out of love. I had slowly given a piece of myself to anyone who wanted it, always wanting something in return but never receiving it.

It took me 25 years to understand that giving a person something doesn't mean they are indebted to you. Taking care of a friend who just expects it and refuses to reciprocate wasn't their fault, it was my own. I had allowed this toxic human to come in and use me. I had given my time to them and let them treat me badly and never give me anything in return. I had let his person make fun of me in front of my own family because I had made excuses for their bad behavior. It's not her fault, her parents are distant and she was just suicidal last week, I should be a better best friend to her. To be honest, it wasn't her fault. I let this so-called friend treat me like crap and still gave. Now she attacks me on Twitter and thinks she has her life figured out. How the heck do I know if she does or doesn't? I have no malice or ill-will towards her, but given her history I fail to see how she'll ever attain the life she wants.

I have to stop taking responsibility for other people's lives and just focus on my own life, which to be honest isn't in perfect shape. I have plenty in front of me to work on, so that's what you'll be seeing me do (if you stick around for the ride.)