My New Picture...

I put up a new picture for my profile and then took it down with in a day. Why you ask? No, it wasn't because Mark Paul Gosselaar sent me that new photo along with an email detailing his undying love for me. No, it wasn't because I was fearful that someone would see my photo online and thus my life would spiral into a series of failures--never getting another job, stolen identity, stalker,etc. It was because I looked a bit busted in the photo. It was taken by one of my students after a long day at school. I felt it was is an accurate look of how I normally look/feel when I am blogging. I realized that I was consistently apologizing to you for grammatical and spelling errors, and I thought the picture would provide some sort of defense for my downfalls in the writing arena. By the end of most days, I am still swimming in letter sounds, temper tantrums(from my students and myself), and accidents of all kinds. It is hard for me to pour my glass(es) of wine, let alone put a sentence together. (You will notice I am still trying to prove to why my poor writing should be excused--wah wah). In the end, the picture was more of a reason for you all to stop following my blog and/or stop being friends with me. It was bad guys....real bad. (There would be no way that Maks, from Dancing With the Stars, would want to take me on a date if he thought I looked like that)

You may be asking, "Becca, Why didn't you just take a cool picture of yourself wearing aviators and then post it?" To you I say, How dare you?!?! Who do you think I am? Some girl who sits around and takes pictures of herself? Do you want that obvious slanted pic that tells you, "This girl uses all her spare time to take pics of herself wearing fashionable sunglasses for her new facebook profile picture, and furthermore she thinks these pictures make her look prettier and skinner than she really is but they actually make her look even more bustarded?" Have some dignity. Have some class...I would never!

Ok I can't lie...I tried to do that. (see pic below). But none of my attempts actually made me look sane, much less a cool blogger. (I realize the oxymoron I just made in that last sentence). Also, the picture you see below is the one I managed to take upside down--yes I am a twenty something who grew up in the age of technology. But in my defense I used disposable cameras until 2008.

I was just trying to look cool, but then I realized, "Becca you have never been cool. Ridiculously, awesomely, and absurdly funny--yes, but never cool." That's when I realized--I have been put here to make you people laugh. Therefore, I have posted my busted looking profile picture and pictures of my attempts to look hardass for your entertainment. It is a hard job but some one has got to do it. Let me know how you feel!

NOTE--I do not need your judgments about my attempts to take cool pictures. It was a Friday night and I decided to stay in to re-watch the Madonna episode of Glee. I think it is safe to say I realize that I am anything but cool.

Taubel--OUT


Yes, I was trying to be a cast member of The Hills...or I had just finished watching Top Gun. Does either excuse really make this picture ok? (Deep sigh and shoulder shrug)

My First CD...

The first c.d. I ever bought was by a lesser known group called The Real McCoy. Below is a link to my favorite song. It was the only reason I bought the CD.

NOTE--first tape I ever bought was the TLC On The TLC Tip. What About Your Friends was my jam! In 3rd grade I had some issues with some friends and it was my anthem. Thank you ladies. Links below


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctlBvsaFuE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVJBhDoGapM

Happy Saturday and your welcome!

Taubel--OUT!

Keeping It Mediocre

WARNING--Shameless plug coming your way. Below is a link to the video of my first improv show. Our team name is Keeping It Mediocre--we set expectations high. We have all been taking classes at Second City in Chicago, and these clips are from our level C show at the Training Center.

We are currently in our last class and have our last show on May 1st. If any of you are in the Chicago area please come see us!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAAc07o_8z0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1khV2BPckEw&feature=related

*There are 2 videos of the show the first link is of the first 8minutes and the second link is the remainder of the show.

Enjoy!
Taubel--OUT!

Transform Me=Awesome!!

Readers, prepare yourself for a big shocker. I am watching VH1 reality shows this morning. Stop judging me and turn your tv to VH1. You will thank me later.

Currently, VH1 has a show called Transform Me!. The basis of this show is that 3 Transgender women help a woman who is struggling with self esteem and fashion. They come to here home, riffle through her closet and make up drawer, and talk to her about her current lot in life. The idea is that the transformers know what it is like to feel like they are not able to be a beautiful woman. Because of the journey they took to become a woman, they are now qualified to help these fashion challenged women find higher self esteem and clothes that actually look like they are from 2010.

I was a bit skeptical of this show, but five minutes in, I was sold! Think Queer Eye for the Straight Guy meets the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Basically, it equals AWESOME!!

The transformers travel around in an ambulance and say some hilarious things. For example, upon searching through a transformees make up drawer they found only a tub of Vaseline. This upset them, and when they confronted the fashion patient this was said, "Petroleum Jelly does not count as a make up item." I died for that comment. Thank god they told us. How many people have been going around thinking that vasline would be the best thing before a Friday night on the town? They get better...

They took their transformee on a shopping spree and began to explain the joys of accessories. BTW--I learned a lot from this segment. I may or may not have been taking notes. It was not until one of the transformers began to talk about the power of the clutch that I realized the gold mine I had come across. Apparently, the fashion victim was not holding her clutch correctly, nor strutting with said clutch right. They showed her a couple of ways to work the clutch and then said this gem, "The clutch is the slave and it will serve you." Get it gurl!!!! Thank goodness I was watching. I had no idea that a clutch could serve me. You think it could brew my coffee in the morning too?

Finally, to help their charge find her inner strength they took her to a Country Western bar to ride a mechanical bull (which they called a buffalo for the remainder of the show). This is where two of my favorite lines were said. First their fashion victim mounted the bull, and I must say, she was pretty good. One of the transformers felt the ride on the bull was a metaphor for her transformation. "When she jumped up on that buffalo, she told me 'I'm ready. I want to go through life being fierce.'" I love that a ride on a mechanical bull said all of that. Maybe some of our governmental officials need to ride a mechanical bull to get some answers to the many problems we have going on...furthermore, maybe the Transform Me ladies should head up to Washington and spend a week or so there.

Perhaps the best line was when the transformers took to the bull riding. One was wearing a skirt and tried to jump up on the bull. Immediately, VH1 put up a sensory bar and then they cut to a confessional shot. "I'm not one to wear underwears but if I decide to ride a buffalo I think that would be a smart choice." Thank you VH1...thank you.

By the end of the episode, the fashion victim was a victim no longer. Not only did she look beautiful, but she seemed to have a lot more confidence. Like most makeover shows, there were some tears of joy at the end, but I didn't mind it so much.

Overall, this show is entertaining and a little heart warming. I am tempted to have someone take pictures of me before and after school, and then send them to VH1. I go for comfort when teaching. Therefore, I look pretty tragic, and I am more than certain I could qualify as a fashion victim. I have a feeling those 3 ladies and I would have a great time together.

Set your DVRs and start watching this show. I have to run and watch the latest episode of 16 and Pregnant.

Taubel--OUT!

A Quick One...

First, let me say that Jason Derulo has some JAMS and I love them. Before he starts singing each of his songs he does this little intro thing where he sings his name. I thought this was just to remind you who he was in case you are listening to suffle on your iPod and you needed a quick reminder. We have all been there before--you think you are about to get one song but then you get another one that has a similar beginning. Jason D. just lets us know up front what awesome beat we are about to jam to.

He just performed on American Idol, and he did the name intro there too. It really confused me. Hey Jason, Ryan just told everyone you were performing. We were pretty sure it was going to be you. I wasn't thinking that Ryan and the Idol gang were going to pull a fast on us and put Clay Aiken on the stage. Not only would that be a little creepy but it would be a really good way to flush ratings down the toilet. I appreciate you wanting to be sure we knew it was you kicking ass on stage, but I think it might have been a bit over the top. That David kid from the other season of Idol just performed, and he wasn't like "David Archie here" right before he launched into his not so great version of Imagine. He knew that we all knew it was him on stage and that we were all wishing that it were the other David on stage.

So Jason, while I LOVE your songs, I think it is safe to say that we know who you are and we love you. Can we cut the intros please? K Thanks! BTW--Love you!

Taubel--OUT!

Zack Morris--The Secret of Life

*It is way past my bed time. Please forgive my rants and overall ridiculousness. I need sleep.

I am like many young adults who decide to take part in the season of Lent, for no other reason than to brag about what frivolous things we have decided to rid ourselves of. This year, I decided to give up making bad decisions. I can see all of you pondering this statement, and wondering to yourself, "What does she mean, bad decisions?"

I am glad you asked. Actually, not all that happy you asked. Your question forces me to explain myself. I would rather hide behind the mystery then have you guys know my true struggles. BAM! I know, I am soooooo deep. It's what we bloggers do...we get deep and ponder life's issues. It's a blessing and a curse. If you doubt me see my first post, then reference post 2, then see 2 posts before this one--they prove my point. I am like that episode of Saved By the Bell when Zack gave the Valedictorian speech that Jesse started to give but then told Screech to give, who then gave the mic over to Zack. Yup, I just speak what's in the heart. (That my friends is what we call a diversion. This is a tactic I use to get you to forget the original question you had so I don't have to answer it. I am good.)

Back to my Lent goal--I am happy to report, I made it forty days without making a poor life decision. I realize that this all depends on what you define as a bad life decisions. And to that I say, you don't make my rules. By my standards, I did pretty good.

What are my standards? I am glad you ask--again, not really. (See above as to why). I wasn't sure about my standards at first, but then I realized all my answers could be solved by looking to that blond bombshell--Zack Morris. (again, see previous reference to Mr. Morris)

After much research I have decided that, according to Saved by the Bell, bad Life Decisions Are:

Bad decision #1: Getting in a bar fight. I watched that episode when Zack and Slater got in a fight and I realized it wasn't worth it. (*NOTE this reference comes from the Tori years, and I was not a fan of these episodes.) After watching the video link below, I decided that fighting is NEVER the answer, and I can honestly say, I did not get a fist fight during Lent. Actually, I have NEVER been in a fist fight. So 2 pts for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO73-WlOHhM

Bad decision #2: Flashing a camera that turns out to be Girls Gone Wild. There was this one episode of SBTB when Lisa was going out with Jesse's new step brother. They were driving around the parking lot of Bayside and Lisa took the wheel. In a ill-fated attempt to get Jesse's step bro in trouble, Zack, Slater, and Screech tried to snap a picture of the step bro driving the car. Bad news Bayside Tigers, Lisa was driving the car, and the flash startled her and she crashed the car. Whose car was this you ask? None other than Mr. Belding's. DRAMA!!! After that episode, I have decided to avoid cameras. So good news readers, I managed to avoid all cameras during Lent. This means there was no chance that I would flash a camera. Actually, I have never flashed a camera and have no desire to do so. Another deuce for me!

Bad decision #3: Having a really bad drug habit that ruins your family and financial standing. (Another Saved By the Bell reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO73-WlOHhM ) THERE'S NO HOPE WITH DOPE!! Zack and the gang taught me that drugs and Johnny Dakota are bad!! I bet you know how I did with this one! Yup, I DIDN'T develop a drug addiction. And again, I have never had a drug habit. I attribute this to Zack Morris and my inability to do things that would result in jail time. Another 2 pts for me and Bayside.


My assessment of this year's Lent goal is that I am REALLY good at this. Basically, I have been living in Lent season for the past 25 years. I feel really good about myself! I have successfully avoided trashy hair pulling fights, public nudity, and drugs.

Some say I am a normal, functioning adult, but I think there is an unsung hero in all of this. His name:Zack Morris. His game:making Lent easy on all of us. I think you should all go out and buy Saved by the Bell on DVD and let the gang show you how to live life. Seriously, think of a life problem you have. Then pop on an episode of SBTB. I am more than certain you will find a way to solve or forget about that problem. Yes, I said it and I stand by it.

And there you go! I not only make you laugh but I give you some good life advice. Your welcome! (Insert virtual group high five and freeze frame. Cue theme song)

Taubel--OUT!

Bieber Fever

I have received some complaints surrounding my last post. I did not realize what a following young Bieber had--esp. among the 25-30 crowd.

Because many of you felt that I needed to take a second listen to JB's hits, I decided to download more of his jams. The ends result--I now have a iTunes Playlist called Teen Sensations--You wish you were one. Along with young JB, we have the talented Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, Tiffany, the Backstreet Boys, Britney, Christina A., LFO, etc. etc. Pretty much if you sang a bad love song that teen girls went crazy for, I put you on that playlist.

I still don't like the fact that this kid is everywhere, but I do like his jams. They are catchy, and I will admit I did bust the Baby song out while I was getting ready today. I may or may not have done a spin move and pretended my bathroom mirror was the video camera. While getting ready, I like to sing and dance like I am in the music video...I feel your judgments and I don't like it.

Moral to the story is don't judge a singer by the fact that he sounds like he could be on Sesame Street. You never know when you could discover a song that really makes your feet tap, or in my case, really makes you use your brush as a microphone and break out the sprinkler dance move.

Bossy and Friends--I hope this helps to mend our friendships. My apologies for not giving Justin the praise he deserves.

Taubel--OUT!