Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Book club: MWF Seeking BFF

I think I've seen She's All That too many times.


And for that matter, 10 Things I Hate About You.


Not because I often break out into choreographed dances to Fatboy Slim songs (I do), or pine for a place where Y and I can throw giant paint balls at each other (I definitely do).  I actually came to this conclusion because I'm convinced that when anyone seems to like me, they're only doing it as part of a bet. 


Since I've been married for almost three years and am pretty sure Y isn't betting he can turn me into prom queen, I've displaced this fear onto friendships. People are only hanging out with me because there's some kind of bet on the line.


 Okay, maybe I'm not that down on myself, but when I hang out with a new friend, there is a tiny part of my brain that thinks that after we hang out, she's going to go make fun of me with Sean William Scott I mean Paul Walker (are they the same person??), Andrew Keegan, and everyone else who is in on the bet. 


All that to say that making new friends is awkward. I'm really glad my book club decided to read MWF Seeking BFF, a memoir that goes into detail about the complete awkwardness of making new friends as an adult. Rachel Bertsche, the author, reminded me of myself in so many ways, including having incredibly creepy hyper-recall (I remember every conversation I've ever had with you, friends...and possibly what I was wearing for each one) and never knowing whether to hug or shake hands. I was kind of sad when the book ended, in the way that you get sad when you hang up the phone with an old friend. 


Katie decorated her house with polka dots to match the front cover of the book. It was pretty freaking cute. 





Oh and did I mention we Skyped with Rachel Bertsche? That's her on the laptop above. My favorite thing she told us is that for her birthday this year, she's having a 90's throwback slumber party... with 26 people! Pretty fun, since at the beginning of her book she barely had a handful of acquaintances, much less anyone you could invite to a slumber party without seeming like a total weirdo.




Pink was the unofficial color of the night; pizza was the official meal (including dessert pizza, above). 




And there were favors! Friendship bracelets, of course. I loved mine, wore it the next day, and assumed everyone was talking about me behind my back.


Oh, and FYI I'm not ashamed to admit that yes, I learned the She's All That prom dance to Rockafeller Skank when I was in high school and yes, I have googled "paint balls that you throw" many, many times in my life. Want to be my friend?

12 comments:

  1. Pick me!!? Nobutseriously. Did you get my email about the Midwest blogger slumber party in Chicago!??

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  2. So I'm definitely purchasing that book ASAP - seriously sounds like it would fit me to a T.

    I've only dealt with paintballs once. I went paintballing once and I was the only girl. There were roughly 20 other guys there and over half of them were so serious about the sport they had back up tanks and all this fancy gear. I hid the entire first round and the second round I only moved roughly 20 feet. If we would have been playing hide-and-seek I would have totally won.

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    1. I would do the EXACT same thing. I hope we never have to go to the Hunger Games!

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    2. HA! Exactly! ORRRR maybe we could win with that strategy?

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    3. Ooh... excellent point.

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  3. I'm pretty sure every reasonable teen girl of the late 90s has that same paint ball fantasy. And if they don't, you don't want to be their friend. (Have you searched "balloons filled with paint to throw"? Because that seems more accurate to the scene...)

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  4. I love my friendship bracelet, too. In fact, I'm still wearing it! It makes me smile, and I don't care if that makes me a complete dork.

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  5. Such a fun night! And so glad ya'll liked the friendship bracelets...I'm totally still making them...just so many pretty color combos!! And don't worry, I totally learned the She's All That prom dance too...I'll be your friend!

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    1. Can we practice?? Tomorrow? Your office?

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  6. Hi there! Came across your blog from Lo @ Crazy Ever After. I love that you enjoy She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You as much as I do. They definitely top my favorites list. Anytime I catch it one on TV I'm instantly sucked in and out of commission until it's over.

    That book sounds super interesting - I totally know how you feel! I'll have to check it out! :)

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  7. This one just finally came available for me to pick up at the library, and now I'm even more excited to read it... And I still just love your book club's themed decorating.

    Making new friends as an adult IS awkward since everyone already has some friends - so more than feeling like people are playing a trick on me when they hang out with me, I spend time wondering whether people really want to add me as a new friend??!

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