Sorry -- Monday musings is on vacation in San Antonio. Please check back next week for a new episode.

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People are usually surprised when they discover I'm a Sex and the City addict. However, I don't watch the show for the men, the sexual exploits, or the New York City hotspots. (Okay, sometimes I do.) But the real reason I'm hooked on the show is because I'm living vicariously through the characters' friendships. Through heartbreak and shoe shopping, Carrie and the girls are always there for each other.

I desperately want a girl gang of my own (albeit a less slutty one). Trying to make new friends has proven to be one of the hardest parts of post-collegiate life. My true-blue, best friends are the people I became close to during high school and college. While we're still close, none of us live near each other. I can't call my best friends and tell them to meet me at the coffee shop in twenty minutes. One of them lives in Japan, for God's sake.

In an effort to expand my social circle, I've joined community service groups and tried to befriend coworkers, acquaintances, and the like. And let me tell you, it's hard. I have a group of girls that I play card games and drink wine with once a month, but it's purely a social connection, not an emotional one. Making friends after college is a lot like dating. Finding someone with similar interests, values, and the X-factor -- that indefinable quality that makes people "click" -- isn't easy.

From what I've heard and observed, many twenty-somethings seem to be in the same boat. You'd think we could get our act together and find our own circle of Friends, but alas, life isn't a sitcom. In college, everyone shares a similar lifestyle experience. After graduation day, we no longer have a common experience to bring us together. Some go to grad school, some get married, some have kids, some travel overseas, some focus on careers ... you can see why it's hard to find a connection.

Sometimes I get lonely and wonder if I'm a special kind of loser because I don't have many friends in Lincoln. However, being in a friendship drought has made me appreciate my true friends even more, and I've become better at expressing just how much I care about them. I'm also glad that as we get older, the age difference between me and my lovely sisters matters less. When I do or say something goofy, Hayley and Lindsey may laugh at me, but I know they love me no matter what. That's the best kind of friend, if you ask me. :)

At the risk of sounding like a cheesy mass e-mail forward, do the following today:
1) Call a friend and thank them for putting up with your crazy self
2) Hug your sisters, for they can be the greatest friends.
3) Watch an episode of Sex and the City. It rocks.

My fellow bloggers, I have the MOST interesting first date story you'll ever hear....or at least the most interesting one you've heard so far. I thought that I'd experienced all the first dates ever. There was the blind date to the Seward High School prom with a socially inept Irish man (which landed me at home in tears at 10:00 on that Saturday night), then there are they typical awkward dates where you're trying-to-like-each-other-so-much-that-we-have-pasted-smiles-and-fake-laughs-to-boot, and lastly those very few that when you get home you think to yourself, "Wow, that was pretty painless. In fact I think I just had a GOOD first date." I don't know about you guys, but good first dates are hard to come by. And now you will learn how I crashed into my most eventful first date.

My friend Jay and I have known each other since last year. We've been hanging out more this semester, but mainly in a group setting, so when he Facebooked me that we should hang out I figure I'll be one of seven in attendance. Well when I called him about our plans he told me I could pick out my favorite movie that is playing at Starship (the $2 theatre in Lincoln.) I picked Elizabethtown, which he said he would love to see. I met him at his house and found that we were the only ones going (could it be a date? Wait and see!) As we get into his Honda Civic, camera in hand, he decideds that he would like to take me out in his "nice" car. I agree of course. You don't mess with guys and their vehicles. So his other car is red with T-tops (yes that's all I know. This will come in handy later in the story, so don't forget that I'm car stupid and didn't know what kind it was.) We drove to the movie and got found our seats at the theatre. The movie was REALLY good and we had fun talking too. As we were leaving he was telling me about all the parking tickets he's gotten in his life. Then he told me how many traffic tickets he's got (42!) This really didn't bother me because I knew that most of them were minor details. So as we were driving back he was kind of showing off with his manly power with the gas petal and he laughed. I asked him why and he told me that I had a scared look on my face. I then add saucily, "I don't get scared!" HA. Well about five blocks later we hit some ice and began to fishtail. I was scared then let me tell you. Jay couldn't get control of his little red car so the back end flew around and the car jumped the curb and hit a tree. I kid you not. The tree hit right on my door, so the top part of the door bent in and hit me in the head. The side of the door came in pushing my right knee into the inside of my left and my feet got stuck. (This really is tragic and they told me that I'm lucky to be alive, but I have to add my own humor to make it all better. I thought I should warn you since you're probably gasping OH MY GOSH!!!) Well immediately Jay asks if I'm okay. I figure if I'm still breathing, I'm okay! Well I then was scared because I was stuck and couldn't get out of the car. I didn't want the Jaws of Life to get ahold of me!

Somehow, probably adrenaline-induced, I managed to slip out of my shoes and crawl out Jay's driver side door. By then the cops are there and are telling me that they're calling an ambulance. I'm like, oh super so now I can't go back and study. This really shouldn't have been on my mind, but hello I'm a stressed college student. So they put me in the ambulance and put me on a backboard with a neck brace and they asked if me and my boyfriend had been fighting or if there was any anger involved. I said he's not my boyfriend, and no we didn't fight. They then proceeded to put an IV in. 10 stabs later they told me I had crazy veins and said they wouln't poke me anymore. Thank goodness! I'm already in enough pain right?

When I got to the hospital I got x-rays because I had head pain (duh), left shoulder pain, left knee pain, and chest/side pain. So I think I got about 12 x-rays and one CAT scan by 1:00. I then was crying because I didn't want dad to kill Jay (he really is a nice boy with good intentions) and I hadn't called anyone yet, because I didn't know who I should call. But then I got back to room 26 in the ER and saw Jay sitting there. He told me he talked to my friend Sarah and told me that his parents were praying for me. How nice! Then he asked if I wanted to call mom and dad. I was like "Unless you want an ear-full from my dad right now, I don't think so." Finally, they told me that the x-rays looked good but that I was badly bruised. Super! My roommate and four guy friends all came to the hospital so I felt better.

Anyway yesterday I called my parents and all my dad said once he found out that I was not going to die, he started asking if we were friends and was all oooo-lala. I was like, "DAD, are you kidding me? So then I told him that yes, Jay, is a nice boy." So just to update you, my shoulder and knee hurt real bad and I hobble around, but you know what....I'll be just super! In fact, Jay brought me fresh baked cookies, flowers, and a card and a couple of my other guy friends gave me flowers and a card. I feel so special! So I thank God that I'm alive and will be well, and I also will more than likely be going on a second date with Jay; however, I think we should take bikes instead!

It's only 8:27 a.m., and I'm ready to go back to bed. I have a sleep hangover from waking up too quickly.

My happy slumber was interrupted this morning when I rolled over in bed and noticed that the room was filled with more light than usual. I grabbed my alarm clock, which read 7:36. Cripes! I forgot to set my alarm.

I leaped out of bed, washed my face and smeared on the minimum amount of makeup required to prevent me from scaring people, and concealed my bedhead. That's not an easy task when a ponytail isn't an option, but luckily I showered before bed last night so my hair wasn't all wonky and gross. I packed my breakfast, fed the cat, and managed to leave the house by 8:00.

Now, a twenty-four minute mad dash to the door probably isn't impressive to the college students on board, but I'm pretty impressed with myself. I can easily waste 90 minutes before work each day. See, I wake up slooowly. It's not like I spend the whole time beautifying myself, but I do everything in such slow motion that preparing for the day takes about 45 or 50 minutes longer than it should. Plus, I believe in leisurely reading my newspaper and eating a complete breakfast, which is difficult to do at work. Oh, and I'm easily distracted by Mr. Blue doing something adorable and feeling the urge to scrub the sink, sweep the bathroom floor, take out the garbage, wash a week's worth of clothing, or do some other random chore.

Like my dad, I love sleeping. However, I also inherited Mom's OCD. I'm telling you, it's a terrible combination that presents quite a quandary in the morning.

Indulge me a bit if you will. I know I've been writing novels on here lately, but with not having to work another day between now and January 3rd, I have some time on my hands, and a nasty bit of insomnia. Paid vacation days rule.

I'm feeling pretty damn good right now. Not because I am hammered after my test, though it feels good to be done with econ professor, Dr. Evil.

No....today I am feeling thankful. Ash is asleep right now upstairs, and I am a little high on caffiene and adrenalin from the final, so I'm still up.

I'm feeling thankful because three years ago today, I took a my best friend out to dinner in Omaha and as we walked around the central park mall Christmas lights, I asked her to marry me. It was probably not the dream proposal she had imagined, as it was clumsy, teary, and a little corny (then again, I AM clumsy, and a little corny so it had to be expected), but I don't think the words I said or where I said them really mattered.

I won't bore you with romance and cheesyness that will either make you go eww or roll your eyes, but I'm a pretty lucky geek. I don't deserve her or the life I have with her. I'm just a tool that happened to get lucky.

I've gained more respect for that girl every day since that night, and she continues to amaze me with her drive, compassion, heart, integrity, respect and all the other adjectives I woudl add if I were actually wide awake.

One of my closer friends was telling me the other day that he envied me, because I am really just a tool, yet I have it all. Now, I don't really think I have it all, but I do have wonderful friends, a great family, and what I can only image are perfectly normal (and not the usual crazy) in-laws. My cousin Matt's inlwas are horrible....

So I guess that alone makes me feel pretty darn wealthy. To some people, that may not be worth a hill of beans -- but this is my hill, and these are my beans.

Wealth is not about shares of Microsoft, a high paycheck or how many bathrooms your house has. Wealth is not the type of car you drive or the clothes you wear.

And as I sit in our basement, with the cat curled up at my feet as I type, I feel tremendous good forture. Thanks to that lady upstairs, this is as good as it could ever get.

Well... I'm driving her up to Omaha on Thursday night for dinner at that same restaurant and a walk through that same park. And then walking across the street to see U2 rock the Qwest center will be Ok too.

Monday musings.

Well, the paper from hell is done and I am focusing on studying now. Tomorrow at this time, I'll be sitting in class taking the test. Then I will be drinkign heavily.

Hayley, Ash and I had a conversation yesterday that I have to clarify. I stated that I dislike girls like Ashley and Hayley that had all these guys interested in college and are interested in the guys in return....yet when the guy is finally given the chance, the girls lose interest. To clarify, I didn't mean to say I hate girls like that. But....when I think of how big of a tool I was with girls as a freshman or sphopmore in college, I know that I wasn't smooth or whatnot, but I knew I would treat them good and not try to impregnate withiin 4 minutes of the first date. That's why some of the good guys are so gun shy to approach you. The four girls I dated before Ash nearly made me want to give up women. Of course, a nympho, a bi-sexual lesbian, a one-night hook-up that never called me back and the women I call pure evil (mainly in jest) will do that for you. Which brings me to my next point.

Hayley, Julie, Lindzo, Mary, and Paul (switch all the he's to she's in this paragraph and you'll get the point).....Give the geeks a chance every so often. The dream boats and jocks will not treat you nearly as good as the occasional geek will. The hunky dudes will only hold on to you until something else catches their interest. They have so many opportunities, they take good girls for granted and don't knwo how to treat you ladies. Geeks on the other hand cherish the opportunity to spoil, care for and love a good girl that just givs them a chance. And you never know. The geek can grow up a lot from his freshman to senior year. Think about how much of an idiot you were three years ago and I rest my case. So all I'm saying is that you ladies struggling to find your dream guy may want to look at the guys you know will treat you like queens, make you feel special, and will cherish you. Most of the time they will grow up. So give a geek a chance. Ashley did, and I hope it turned out OK for her.

I'm bullish on the Steel and Oil market. Keep your eyes on Nucor (with a Norfolk NE plant) and Encana or Nexium.

I really like brownies.

Did you know pecans will lower your cholesterol?

I wore a baseball hat and jeans for 20 minutes when I stopped by the office today. that was neat.

I got more work done in that 20 minutes than I do in a regular day of work. Why is it when I have 300 things to do and limited time, i can get them done quicker than when I only have ten things to do all day long? A quandry indeed.

I suck at typing, and the tips of my fingers are numb from that darn paper.

I can taste the beer tomorrow night after the test. Mmmmmm.

You might be a nerd if you've ever gotten seriously injured in band class. As of yesterday, I became a true nerd when, during band class, I managed to gash the bridge of my nose deep enough to have to get it stitched up. You're probably wondering how exactly I accomplished this, so let me tell you.

It all began when the band was practicing a rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear" and "Snow Bells" for our upcoming Christmas program. The trumpet section was having some difficulty with part of "Snow Bells," so Mrs. Wellman was working with us on it. All of the sudden she got all ticked off exclaiming, "The rest of the band shouldn't have to sit and wait quietly while you guys try to figure this out. Can't you practice outside of class? That's it. I've had enough. Go out in the hall and practice." Well, I was already ticked off at her because I almost had to get a tardy at the beginning of class because of her, so I shot back, "Fine. I don't want to be in here anyway." (I don't know exactly if she heard me or not, but I hope she did.) With that, I grabbed my trumpet, picked up my stand, and trooped out of the room with the rest of the first trumpets. (Don't confuse my being a first trumpet with actually being good at playing it. Keep in mind, we were being sent out in the hall because we basically suck!)

So, I get out in the hall, and I'm all pissed off, which probably hindered my ability to use my head...well, I did, sort of...oh just let me get on to it. I needed to raise my stand because we were going to be standing up. Well, this stand was one of the many half-broken, f**ked (see how mad I am, I'm cussing) up stands our school has, so I'm pulling on it, and it won't budge. Finally, I yank up on it as hard as I can, the whole top part flies off, slamming me on the bridge of my nose. In my frustration, I throw down the stand and turn around yelling, "Gosh darn it, guys. I just hit myself in the head with this stupid thing." I reach up to feel my nose, and I just feel this indention in my nose, so I think nothing of it until everyone gasps at the sight of my face. "Lindsey, you're going to bleed," "Oh my God!" "Are you okay?" "You need to go to the nurse." These are the responses I get, and I'm just all like, "What?"

So, one of my fellow trumpeters/flag co-captain ushers me off to the nurse. You have to understand this girl is as blond as they come, so she's freaking out asking me if I'm going to faint, while I'm just all, "I feel fine." Heck, I didn't even cry. That's right. I'm tough. Anyway, when I get to the nurses office and see this lovely gash on my face, I realize it is worse than I thought. The nurse tells me I probably need stitches, which is what really scares me because dang, that would hurt.

I then drove home, and Dad took me to the doctors, where luckily, he didn't have to stitch me up; he used some special glue called Durabond to patch me up. So, now I have a lovely little band-aid on my forhead instead. The bonus: it's Care Bears! Everyone at school made fun of me so bad. Don't worry. It didn't bother me. At least not as much as the thousands of times I got asked, "What happened?" That is so annoying. But really, I can't blame people for making fun of me. I mean, seriously. How many people actually get hurt in band?! By the time this is all over, I'm hoping I've started a new trend: the band-aid across the nose look. Heck, Nelly did it with the band-aid across his cheek. Why can't I?

My apologies. Yesterday was a wee bit busy with actual work and all. Plus, the two times I tried to log on, the site would never come up. So here it is, belated Monday musings:

• Last class tonight with the bastard-coated bastard of a professor. Last week, the guy tries to tell us that because of their increased efficiency, Wal Mart is the most ethical company ever to exist in the world. He also told us illegal immigrants are great for the economy and the like. That's what happens when you put on the glasses of only looking at one aspect like the economics and you ignore social implications completely. After this class, he may get a promotion in my book to Dr. Asshat Bastardfield.
• I hate snow drifting. Especially when it is too tall to hit with the hand-me-down snowblower. Can't wait to dig that out after class tonight.
• Fluctuating oil prices are really throwing consumer goods into an up-and-down loop. That said, I'd stick with something known like Johnson & Johnson or Proctor & Gamble.
• Today is my last chance to get Chipotle and torture Dr. Asshat. Due to the cold weather, I had to moisturize today. Therefore, as per previous blog, said activity is encouraged.
• I hate our athletics department. Tools.
• No good video clips this week. Sorry.

IT'S OFFICIAL! The Anderson reunion is going to happen, and everyone is coming! I booked the hotel rooms this morning, so start thinking of ideas for our wild New Year's Eve, heh heh. Should I look for the dreidel? :)

Hayley, please, pretty please, skip the wedding. New Year's Eve would not be the same if you ditched us.

As many of you know, I have a very "active" mind, if you will. What I mean by this is that basically I have really random thoughts that pop into my head. Most of the time I keep them to myself, but you all have the honor of knowing my random thoughts on this beautiful December day.

Random Thoughts (in the form of fun facts and observations made by yours truly)
P.S. Andy I realize that this may resemble your Monday musings; however, you haven't copyrighted this trend, so I shall muse myself and try to be as cool as you!

• Did you know that an authentic smile lasts only two seconds? After that it's a big fakeout!
• Did you know that when you mimic an emotional state (for example pretending to be mad when really you're happy) you use completely different facial muscles than the ones used when you express true anger?
• Did you know that in some countries it is polite to offer your wife to a houseguest? However, you can only offer her once, so after that watch out! (And by offering your wife I mean....well it's more than polite conversation.) Note to self: don't stumble upon that country with husband in the future.
• Fun tip: When you're down in the dumps or mad because a certain neighbor in the dorms is being a bizotch, try smiling. It'll actually make you feel much better!
• Cooking tip: don't try making chili soup with four cans of tomato paste, one can of tomato slices, bacon bits, and one can of beans. (Yes, I let boys cook for me and this is what I get. Good thing I made some stellar cinnamon rolls so I had something to eat!)
• And lastly, ladies you may enjoy this, if you go to the Mary Kay website (www.marykay.com) you can buy one product and get another half off! See your local Mary Kay dealer for more information!