Lookin' for the lily pad.

Growing up, I was always under the impression that the absolute time of my life was going to be in my twenties. Oh yea. This was going to be the period where childhood and adulthood crossed paths and I was going to live in this decade of working and having the most fun humanly possible. It's too bad when you and life don't exactly see eye to eye though.

So. Here I am. Approaching my mid-twenties (and not believing that time has somehow managed to speed up at full force). And now that I'm here, I'm not so sure that this is really the prime. I think everyone is different, but from what I've learned I think my prime is a long way off.

One of my all-time idols and well, the person I would LOVE to be (maybe even more than Rob Pattinson's girlfriend) is J.K. Rowling. Does that surprise you? If you know me, you know I LOVE LOVE Harry Potter. Right along with all the other 10 and 12 year olds. Love it. But behind this awesome series is a truly amazing woman.

Like most writers, people may not know that much about her personal life. But the truth is, she hasn't had such a charmed one. A mother who died from MS, a divorce, forced to live off welfare and a baby to provide for. Clinically depressed to top it all off. And you know what she did? When she was at her absolute worst, when life threw her out and she was all alone, she wrote Harry Potter. But the work and rejection didn't end there. No. Life still had to be cruel. Harry Potter was originally rejected by 12 different publishing houses before Bloomsbury decided to pick it up. 12 rejections.

But look who’s on top now! Seven novels that have sold around the world at a rate of 1,000 copies a minute, and 8 movies that surely have and will continue to break records at the box office. Middle age seems to be her prime.

There are so many things I want to do, but if you know me, you also know that I want to write a book. Several. More than anything. It’s a long shot to imagine getting the success that Rowling has, but it’s important to remember that we all have to go through tough times to figure out when we’ll reach our prime. Maybe it’s not about trying to be her and jumping to the other side of the pond right now. Maybe sometimes you just need to find the next lily pad.

What's your crack?

OK. I have an addiction. I've realized over the past few weeks that it's becoming a serious thing. In fact, it's probably what led me to start this blog. No, I don't actually have a drug problem, but I'm afraid I can't go to rehab for this one.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP. I know what you're thinking. I can see you all sitting there judging me behind your computer screens. And I'm not ashamed.

Chances are you probably turned on the news this morning? The TODAY show, Good Morning America, CNN or maybe you listened to NPR on your way into work. Let me guess. Did they mention something about the economy? Unemployment? Iraq? Iran? Korea? (And, well if you have listened the last few days, Michael Jackson.) As part of the ten percent of Americans that are currently unemployed, I don't really need a daily update on the statistics. I think I'm aware. Yes, we get it. The world is ending. Let's all just run in bomb shelters and hole up until they've decided it's safe. Sure thing.

What I do need updates on are what Rob Pattinson wore on his movie set, Britney Spears' new hair color, the God-awful "outfits" these people wear in public, Gisele's baby bump and of course what the Gosselin children ate for lunch (and what color Kate's bikini is today). These are the things that are near and dear to my heart.

Perez Hilton, Pop Sugar, TMZ, Pink is the new Blog, Celebuzz, E! online, really I could go on for days. There's a group of people that think these sites are garbage, full of no substance and think we shouldn't give a shit whether or not Rob Pattinson picks his nose. (Side note: I looooove that kid, and yes I care if he picks his nose.)

The point is, I don't think it makes me shallow. I think it makes me well-informed. I may read these sites like some people read the Wall Street Journal, but that doesn't mean I don't read the newspaper or books or watch CNN. It just means that I have a variety of interests. And I'm sorry, after days of hearing about how bad it is outside of the bomb shelter and trying your hardest to come up for air, getting to make fun of celebrities lives is a pretty nice distraction.

Having a little "crack" to help us with reality is pretty much what gets us through the day. I guess the new slogan should be: Life's tough, so get some "crack." What's yours?