Don't Hate The Player (Part 1 of ?)

To kick off the who's who of the friends awesome enough to be mentioned on this here blog, I'm going to start with the major players.  These are the friends that witness my awesomeness on a daily basis (or hear about it via text/phone/facebook because they live 3,000 miles away, ugh!).

The Favorite (everyone west of Amish country wants her to move to the Best Coast, but she's not budging, help!): Our story falls under that old/tired/kind-of annoying, but true, statement "everything happens for a reason."  I won't go into the full deets since this blog is all about laughter, fluff and positivity and NOT stupid drama (my least favorite thing in the whole world, next to ham and carrots).  Basically, we met the summer after our junior year of high school in a small New England town and I knew we were meant to be when we ordered the same Applebee's meal (Favorite, mayjah points for you if you remember!).  Then I learned of our mutual love of Chinese food.  Umm, hello?  Obviously, she was my soul-sister-mate.  3 years later, basically to the day, our BFF friendship potential was reached and we've been inseparable since.  I don't count the distance as separation.    

Why she's awesome (in her own words): I'm a 28 year old professional who eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead of salads, lean cuisines, and dinner leftovers. I order off kids menus...and wear sweatshirts and sneakers to work with pigtail braids in my hair. I am a ridiculous human being.

The Favorite is married to Big D and they just made Peanut, who is so freakin cute!  If she lets me, maybe one day I'll post a pic.  Her parents and sister are also pretty kick-ass.  I love them despite the fact that they can ALL sing.

West Coast Best (WCB): She is the chocolate chip cookies to the Favorites ice cream.  If you remember back to #1 on my Happy List this will make sense. It's rare that I get to have them together and this is just dumb.  Moving on.  I met the WCB when she was 6'5" and I was 4'8", somewhere around the age of 9.  At the time, she was in the ballet class a level ahead of me and I wanted to be her when I grew up, literally (ahahaha).  Whether it was touching my eye to gross her out, helping her make decisions, or now sharing ways we're turning into our mothers (the original Mama J is way awesome), she's always good for a laugh.  20 years later she still puts up with me.  I suppose I'll keep her around for a bit longer.

Why she's awesome (in mine and the roommate's words because she wasn't reachable):  Whenever I start to feel like a klutz, she tells me an awesome moment story that makes me look like Princess Grace.  She really does try to take care of everyone, but when combined we can be on the frustrating/awesome side.  We're surprised she doesn't yell more (especially with that ridiculous husband of hers), well done WCB!

WCB is married to Capt. Logic and I'm already planning the future of their future children with The Favorite's so they will fall in love (in Disneyland) and then the Favorite will have to move out here!  Also, weird small-world fact, while WCB and The Favorite met each other for the first time last April, Big D and Capt. Logic went to the same college.  In Colorado.

Vladeraptor (formerly The Roommate): We've been dancing together for 13 years, and we still dance around our house because we're awesome like that.  We also slide on the hardwood floor in our socks like we're 5 years old.  So...Much...Fun!  We became roommates after Thousand Island (TI) and The Head got engaged (TI has to live with a BOY!).  I've taught Vladeraptor about cooking dinner with veggies almost every night and she's taught me about patience and slowing down.  All good things.  We now have ESP moments that, while entertaining, kind of freak me out.

Why she's awesome (in her own words): I have so many personality traits that people can be me for Halloween (It's true and I did!).  I like what I like and I don't like what I don't like.  I'm also an eternal optimist which leads to many ill-fated schemes, if that makes sense.

Vladeraptor, the WCB and I went to high school together, along with Thousand Island, The Head, and Where's the Beef? (WTB?).  We're very lucky and realize the rarity of people still liking each other after 10 years.  Maybe it helped that most of us went away for college and/or jobs?  We're also known for adopting people into our groups and not letting them go.

Part 2 to come with more on some of the locals as well as the adoptees.