A Hopeless Romantic No More, but Still as Ditzy as Ever.

Taylor Swift's new album, Red, came out this morning at midnight.  I woke up an hour later than last time she released an album -- not at 4:30 like last time. But the reason I woke up had less to do with Taylor, instead I was finishing homework, with Taylor serenading me in the background.

I wasn't as excited for Taylor's album this go around for one main-ish reasons:

A Hopeless Romantic No More. So... I read a lot.  I love it.  The bad part is when people ask me what I like to read.  I try to own it as much as possible, but still there's a hint of shame in my face when I saw -- cutesy-love-stories, usually with some kind of self-actualization vibe at some point.  But in recent months, I've been developing this whole new perspective on how this isn't real.  No REAL person is EVER like the person in the books I read or the movies I watch or unfortunately the music I listen to.  So then I listen to Taylor tell these fantastic stories with such awesome music in the background, and I get annoyed at how fake it is or sad at how that's never going to happen ever, and then the music has the opposite effect that's it's supposed to.

So maybe... I've outgrown some of my hopeless romantic tendencies for now, but at the same time I have this overwhelming need to get a boyfriend and break-up with him, so I can nurse my broken self back to health on a steady diet of Taylor break-up songs and chocolate chip cookies (with milk so I don't get osteoporosis).   HER BREAK-UP/I-MISS-WHAT-WE-HAD SONGS ARE THAT GOOD. I'm serious. They are the best.  I particularly like: All To Well.

So.. here is a link to All To Well as well as a playlist with her entire album on it (do it quick or the Youtube copyright police will take it down.)

Now to the part where I'm Still as Ditzy as Ever.

Last night I was at Ward Prayer: an event made by Single's Ward Bishops desperate to get us all married off a delightful social event for the ward to bond outside of Church, and I struck up a conversation with some random guys in my ward (rare occurrence -- ward Prayers are just awkward if you haven't already made friends before the blessed event). We were having a pleasant conversation, but I was on my way back to my apartment to watch the last part of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. As I was exiting the conversation, a guy right next to me engaged me in conversation, so I was backed into a corner (literally: my back was right in the crook were two walls were meeting) by my man-friends.  Then they started talking politics.

Not like.. "Yeah I like his social issues, but his tax plan is not my favorite."  It was like "I don't think I agree with how Obama dealt with Libya the first time, but I don't think Romney would have done anything different than Obama the second time."  Then started the in-depth discussion on his tax plan, and how it would affect each group of people.  Then there was the part about drones vs. foot soldiers. My part of the discussion was like:

Boy: "So Kelli what do you think?"
Me: "I don't think I know enough to say anything, but I'm enjoying listening."

How scintillating. Amazed by my wit?  Encouraged by how well informed I am as the future of America? Me too.

NOT!

Yup. I was pretty embarrassed for myself as well.  So I came home, after easing my way out of the corner, and decided to get 'informed.'  Only to be discouraged again.  Do you know how long it takes to become informed? I would have pages and pages of reading to become informed. What's a girl to do?

If only they had asked be about Taylor Swift's new album.  Or even if they had asked me about Therapeutic Recreation.  Or maybe on discrimination in America. Or my opinion on TOMS shoes (ask me about it -- it's juicy!).  Or anything remotely pop-culture or somewhat in my area of interest.  But alas, they did not, so I'm just left regretting how ill-prepared I am to be a contributing member of society.

I'm very open to suggestions on the best ways to become informed quickly.  In fact, I'd be more then open to them -- I'm begging! HELP A SISTER OUT! (I'm also interested in your opinions on Red. In fact, let's be honest, I'd be more interested in that than becoming informed!)

p.s. GET EXCITED -- My mom is going to be doing a blog-post on Friday... It's going to be awesome.  Tell your friends!