Draft(s)

Upon turning 25, I created a list of 25 things that I wanted to accomplish in my 25th year.

I create these lists on a yearly basis.

When reviewing last year's list, I thought I had written down, "Learn to lap dance," and was somewhat relieved when I realized that it actually said "tap dance."

- 03/21/10

I am having a hard time with this.

I can't stop thinking about you.

But I do not feel entitled to the amount of grief I seem to be experiencing.

I can't seem to stop wishing bad things upon whoever it was who first introduced you to this vice, whether all of this blame is warranted or not.

I close my eyes and remember your face; I hear your voice.

It breaks my heart that this is what ended you.

- 06/21/10

I had a date on Monday.

We went bowling.

I have always heard that, when doing anything competitive on a date, the woman (or more feminine party) should let the man (or more masculine party) win. I do not care who you are, I am not going to purposely lose to you. Children and elderly be damned. Got a terminal illness? So what? But I digress...

I found myself ultimately relieved to lose both games because of my own inability to consistently roll a ball down a lane, knocking over 10 pins within two attempts.

- 2/23/11

I have always felt a need for simple reassurances.
When my grandparents died, all I wanted was for someone to say, "It's alright."
When I graduated from university and college, I wanted to hear, "You did a good job."
And last Wednesday, after receiving a note on the windshield of my car calling me all sorts of names (I had inadvertently parked too closely to someone on a hill, evidently leaving them with insufficient room to maneuver out of the spot in which they had parked), I just wanted someone to tell me that I wasn't an asshole.

- 04/03/11

I have serious issues when it comes to romantic love, but I fall in love platonically on a regular basis. Male, female, young or old, my platonic love knows no bounds.

- 04/30/11

In case I have never told you this before, I have had the long standing dream of becoming a professional cotton candy maker. Truth be told, I am not sure that anyone actually does this as a full-time job, but I feel like it is time that this changed.

- 05/19/11

"The key to being funny," I told him, "is not actually trying to make others laugh."

The look of confusion that graced his face told me that he did not understand what I meant.

"My main goal in life is to entertain myself, not you. When someone else laughs at something I have said I consider it an added bonus, but my primary goal is to make myself giggle."

- 05/21/11

Bleeding Orange

He was my political dream boat.

The man, the moustache, who inspired me to become passionate about politics. The man who helped me feel like my opinion mattered and that it was up to me to instigate the changes I wanted to see in the world.

It shouldn't have been a surprise and yet it was. He was beyond frail looking in his last public appearance. But his charisma and passion shone through, so it was easily overlooked.

Though I never met you, I will miss you, Jack. Your final words to the people of Canada have truly touched a nation and I hope that your success will not die with you, rather it will proceed full-steam ahead because of the way you inspired those around you right up until your dying breath.

I bake bread now

It's true. I do. I made that bread in the photo above. And it's not just any bread; it is fancy bread. Two loaves are sun-dried tomato and rosemary and the other two are caramelized onion.

I do not recall what inspired me to take on the challenge of becoming a baker of bread, but one day I said to myself, "Megan... It's time."

Bread making, I have found, is an art that takes time to perfect. Making the dough is relatively easy, but making the dough in such a way that it will rise properly and in the shape you intend it to look like post-oven is another story. And let us not even discuss the challenges of ensuring your bread is golden brown.

Needless to say, I have made probably about 20 loaves of bread in the last two weeks. That is not even an exaggeration. I have made at least two loaves of bread per day, every day.

"But Megan," I would imagine you are saying, "what ever are you doing with all of this bread?"

The answer is that I have been taking it to work and giving it to the people there. It makes me look like I am a great person when really I am just trying to pawn off my bread onto others. It is like I am an evil genius.