There's Something About Mandy, Thoughts on UFC, and "Our Things"

I haven't been a great blogger this week. I have wanted to but didn't really know what to blog about. I have had some adventures including Independence day, paddle boating, miniature golfing with JJ and Jennifer, and watching James Bond outside in Crystal City. I guess they are all "blog worthy" but I didn't take any pictures. Today I was sitting on my bed watching Jack Bauer do his thing on 24 ( I am almost done with season 3 leaving only season 4) and it dawned on me that there was something that I wanted to blog about.

Last Saturday, my friend Laurent and I went to watch one of our favorite activities, that of course being MMA and UFC 86 specifically. Laurent and I are both big fans of one the fighters in the main event Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. You may know Rampage for several reasons but I imagine the most prominent reason would be the fact that he is the inspiration for the famed "Wolves and Chains" Shirt.

Despite my best efforts I just don't pull it off the way Rampage does.

Laurent and I headed out to a classy eatery to enjoy the match up. We had to stand around a bit for a table to open up and finally it did. We ordered a ton of wings (a sporting event and a meal that focused primarily on meat only one element was left of a true man's evening) and cheered wildly as these well trained athletes pummeled each other. It can be brutal but it is very exciting and I can't help but appreciate how hard these guys train and the show they put on. I understand why some people don't get UFC. Last month, Mary, Katie, and Adri went with me and Jim to watch it, and though they hated it I really appreciated them giving it a try. Who am I to make sweeping generalizations but I think most girls just don't like MMA or UFC. There are some girls who do like it, just like there are some guys who like Jane Austin movies. It's rare but you find them. So imagine my absolute shock when they panned the audience and showed my biggest celebrity crush...Miss Mandy Moore. She was watching UFC and she was into it!

Mandy I have but one question. Will you marry me?

When I was a freshman in college Mandy came out with her "Candy" song (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_e4e-eXWbbs). It was love at first sight.

I was once chatting with my friend Bethany and I asked her if she ever thought that there was a celebrity out there that if you met them you just know you would click? She laughed and said maybe. That is how I feel about Mandy. She is tall , cute, and seems so nice on TV. I am a big fan of the movie "How To Deal" and I won't lie the room can get a bit dusty during "A Walk to Remember". Last summer when I was in CA, she was performing at the House of Blues at down town Disney. I happened to be there and pondered if I should go, then I thought there is something very wrong with a 26 year old guy going by himself to see an MM concert. I passed.

Add to all of this that Mandy likes UFC and well...they have a word for this and it's called kismet. So I am confident that if Mandy and I ever met that we would have tons in common and probably sing karaoke and watch old UFC DVD's

Now I doubt there are many NPR loving, wolf shirt wearing, Mandy Moore fans out there and that is my point, we all have stuff that we like and other people just don't get. We don't have to love everything (although we are supposed to love everyone)it's fine, but we also don't have to be ashamed if we like things that other people don't get. Sure I will never understand why my friends dress up and run around and play air soft. I think it is so dumb, but I like the fact that they enjoy it.

Rampage lost and Laurent and I were dissapointed, but we still had a great time. Sure a lot of people won't understand it, but just chalk it up to being one of my "things".