November 30, 2007 - Friday
How are you?
I'm feeling great!
How's business?
Never been better, thank you!
I don't know about you, but I was raised to answer these questions in this manner. It saves everyone a lot of headache. No one wants to hear your problems, blah blah blah. Now while I agree with this, I think maybe it wouldn't hurt to sometimes break from the mold.
It can be tough to spend a lot of time with someone who will enlighten you on every physical ailment they may (or may not?) have. But there is merit to the idea that we are all human and somedays we may have a headache, our clothes may be a bit tight, our lives a bit overwhelmed...and just aching to talk about it for two minutes.
There is a fine line here. Venting vs. whining. Hmmm. It's tough to say what the rules are. I say listen to others. Listen to what they are genuinely saying or not saying.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Black cats and broken mirrors: What’s your poison?
For whatever the reason, superstitions have been coming up in my conversations recently. I looked up the word to see the origin and was faced with something else. Apparently superstition is irrational. I don't know if I believe that. Now is that irrational? I have to chuckle.
Here are mine in no particular order:
$2 bills: I must get this bill out of my wallet as soon as possible, but I will put it in my wallet. It must be spent immediately!
Spilled salt over left shoulder: Because I am a server this happens a lot more often than it should.
Ladders: Don't walk underneath them. This might be a safety issue as well.
Knocking on wood: I am religious about this. It could just be that I'm a Minnesota sports fan. Hahah!
Wishing wells: I believe wishes here do come true.
I find this fascinating, so please let me know what your superstitions are. Anyone think superstitions are irrational? I think everyone has at least one. Also, if anyone could explain the yellow lighter thing to me, I could sleep at night.
Here are mine in no particular order:
$2 bills: I must get this bill out of my wallet as soon as possible, but I will put it in my wallet. It must be spent immediately!
Spilled salt over left shoulder: Because I am a server this happens a lot more often than it should.
Ladders: Don't walk underneath them. This might be a safety issue as well.
Knocking on wood: I am religious about this. It could just be that I'm a Minnesota sports fan. Hahah!
Wishing wells: I believe wishes here do come true.
I find this fascinating, so please let me know what your superstitions are. Anyone think superstitions are irrational? I think everyone has at least one. Also, if anyone could explain the yellow lighter thing to me, I could sleep at night.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
"Why do you hate everything that is good and cuddly?"
November 29, 2007 - Thursday
Someone posed this question to me yesterday. Apparently I am strange because I don't care for the following things:
Christmas--any form of it: music, lights, etc.,
Kids--they're ok in very small doses or if they are my nephews
Dogs--slobbery and dependent
Even though I am a pretty happy individual, the fact that I don't like kids, Christmas and dogs makes me some sort of evil. I say, "No apologies!"
Someone posed this question to me yesterday. Apparently I am strange because I don't care for the following things:
Christmas--any form of it: music, lights, etc.,
Kids--they're ok in very small doses or if they are my nephews
Dogs--slobbery and dependent
Even though I am a pretty happy individual, the fact that I don't like kids, Christmas and dogs makes me some sort of evil. I say, "No apologies!"
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The name Black Friday is a bit dramatic, I think
I try to get my ass out of bed every morning at 5 am (during the week) so I can get to the gym and work out. This involves me struggling with such complicated tasks as turning off the alarm, brushing my teeth and dressing. I don't fully wake up until about 6, when I'm halfway through my workout. If I were to be asked to make any decisions, they would be made poorly. I don't think I'm alone here.
Now consider the madness that ensues after Thanksgiving. People are rising at 3 am (wtf?!) and arriving at stores at 4am to spend their money! No wonder there are cat fights in the aisles over a sweater marked down 70%; no one is awake and they certainly shouldn't be making decisions involving money with a million other people who are not yet coherent.
To top it off, many of these people had been drinking the day before so I would be willing to bet they could've used a few more hours sleep, a big breakfast and a nice quiet morning with a mindless movie. The biggest decision I will be making today is whether to watch another James Bond movie (mmm...a young Sean Connery) or Bad Boys (mmm...Will Smith). Now that sounds like a holiday!
Now consider the madness that ensues after Thanksgiving. People are rising at 3 am (wtf?!) and arriving at stores at 4am to spend their money! No wonder there are cat fights in the aisles over a sweater marked down 70%; no one is awake and they certainly shouldn't be making decisions involving money with a million other people who are not yet coherent.
To top it off, many of these people had been drinking the day before so I would be willing to bet they could've used a few more hours sleep, a big breakfast and a nice quiet morning with a mindless movie. The biggest decision I will be making today is whether to watch another James Bond movie (mmm...a young Sean Connery) or Bad Boys (mmm...Will Smith). Now that sounds like a holiday!
And you wonder why we never got involved?
November 24, 2007 - Saturday
I went to see an Ani concert a few months ago and got shushed by a woman in front of me. Eric Clapton encored with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" when I saw him. (If you're from my hometown, "The Wizard of Oz" is not your favorite movie.) I got roofied at a They Might Be Giants show. I was on the list to get into a Cake show but First Avenue was at capacity so I wasn't allowed in. Somehow I don't think concerts are my thing. This isn't the point though. There is no substitute for live music.
What I am wondering is if you can outgrow something you've spent about a decade with. I have been going through a lot of the old music I haven't listened to in years. Predictably a lot of it is terrible -- Shakespeare's Sister for example, who buys that CD? -- but it does hold some good memories. Others I can't believe I ever stopped listening to -- Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins are two that come to mind.
In all of this I have been blown away by the number of Ani CDs I have. The woman is a machine. She has put out at least one disc every year since 1991. Some are double discs. And I own almost every one of them. For years I have identified with her music and writing. I used to be able to listen to her albums exclusively for weeks. I feel almost blasphemous for saying this, but could it be that we are going in two different directions at last? I am contemplating taking a lot of her music off my iPod (which is full--annoying!). I soothe myself by saying I'm taking a lot off because she has a lot, but is this the end of an era? Or is it a phase I'll get past?
Anyone else heard of the quarter-life crisis? If you haven't, there is this article:http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Careers/Story?id=688240&page=1
or this website:http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com/
I'm not sure if it's exactly what I'm going through because I don't give a rat's ass about whether I have to go to the same job everyday and I have achieved many adult "benchmarks" as they like to call them. For me, I'm suddenly very afraid of becoming typical. Let's understand each other: I know I am an odd duck and I'll never be typical per se, but I'm working the 9 to 5, married, own a house (in the suburbs--ack! it's almost the city, I swear!) and everyone is starting to ask about kids. Please people! I'd like to believe I'm happier than most people with their lives so why is this fear poisoning my mind? Am I completely crazy?
I went to see an Ani concert a few months ago and got shushed by a woman in front of me. Eric Clapton encored with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" when I saw him. (If you're from my hometown, "The Wizard of Oz" is not your favorite movie.) I got roofied at a They Might Be Giants show. I was on the list to get into a Cake show but First Avenue was at capacity so I wasn't allowed in. Somehow I don't think concerts are my thing. This isn't the point though. There is no substitute for live music.
What I am wondering is if you can outgrow something you've spent about a decade with. I have been going through a lot of the old music I haven't listened to in years. Predictably a lot of it is terrible -- Shakespeare's Sister for example, who buys that CD? -- but it does hold some good memories. Others I can't believe I ever stopped listening to -- Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins are two that come to mind.
In all of this I have been blown away by the number of Ani CDs I have. The woman is a machine. She has put out at least one disc every year since 1991. Some are double discs. And I own almost every one of them. For years I have identified with her music and writing. I used to be able to listen to her albums exclusively for weeks. I feel almost blasphemous for saying this, but could it be that we are going in two different directions at last? I am contemplating taking a lot of her music off my iPod (which is full--annoying!). I soothe myself by saying I'm taking a lot off because she has a lot, but is this the end of an era? Or is it a phase I'll get past?
Anyone else heard of the quarter-life crisis? If you haven't, there is this article:http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Careers/Story?id=688240&page=1
or this website:http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com/
I'm not sure if it's exactly what I'm going through because I don't give a rat's ass about whether I have to go to the same job everyday and I have achieved many adult "benchmarks" as they like to call them. For me, I'm suddenly very afraid of becoming typical. Let's understand each other: I know I am an odd duck and I'll never be typical per se, but I'm working the 9 to 5, married, own a house (in the suburbs--ack! it's almost the city, I swear!) and everyone is starting to ask about kids. Please people! I'd like to believe I'm happier than most people with their lives so why is this fear poisoning my mind? Am I completely crazy?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
My oven is cooking pumpkin pie (or, My ode to things unsaid)
November 22, 2007 - Thursday
It's 11 a.m. and I have spent more time on the phone today than I have in weeks. I am not kidding! What a crazy time talking to the relatives. I love it. As much as I dislike the holidays, I really enjoy Thanksgiving because all you do is eat and watch football. Of course let's not forget the true meaning of the holiday, which is to share what we have and be grateful for it all. I'm pretty sure none of us do this well. (I'll get off my soapbox now.)
And so, I propose this: Thanksgiving resolutions! It may not be time to turn over a new leaf for the new year, but I'm going to resolve to be more grateful. I've had this mentality that I could die at any time so I better do whatever I can to enjoy life now. I dig that, but I think it could be keeping me from noticing what I already have and how great that is.
Feasibly, I could be grateful for everything that happens and everything I have, but that seems a little too much even for someone as optimistic as myself. I'm not Pollyanna! I keep thinking It goes without saying that I'm grateful for... but maybe it doesn't. So that is my resolution: assume that nothing goes without saying.
It's 11 a.m. and I have spent more time on the phone today than I have in weeks. I am not kidding! What a crazy time talking to the relatives. I love it. As much as I dislike the holidays, I really enjoy Thanksgiving because all you do is eat and watch football. Of course let's not forget the true meaning of the holiday, which is to share what we have and be grateful for it all. I'm pretty sure none of us do this well. (I'll get off my soapbox now.)
And so, I propose this: Thanksgiving resolutions! It may not be time to turn over a new leaf for the new year, but I'm going to resolve to be more grateful. I've had this mentality that I could die at any time so I better do whatever I can to enjoy life now. I dig that, but I think it could be keeping me from noticing what I already have and how great that is.
Feasibly, I could be grateful for everything that happens and everything I have, but that seems a little too much even for someone as optimistic as myself. I'm not Pollyanna! I keep thinking It goes without saying that I'm grateful for... but maybe it doesn't. So that is my resolution: assume that nothing goes without saying.
What do mean I can’t have everything?
Is the desire to consume contagious? I think it might be. Normally I am pretty happy with what I have and the means I have to acquire new things. But lately I have been thinking about all the things I want. Not even things I could pretend I might need, but just ridiculous shit: a new watch when I have one that works perfectly well, more hats (I'm not going to admit how many I have), or workout clothes (Who needs that? Won't a t-shirt and shorts do the job?).
I think that once this mentality found its way into my head, it just started multiplying and telling me that everything I have isn't good enough and that I must have something NEW! Don't get me wrong, I like new things but they are usually something I don't already have. My desires are spreading and I must cure myself immediately.
The worst part of this is that it couldn't come at a more inopportune time. I'm supposed to resist these urges when all of America is being swept up in its annual let's-just-spend-like-our-credit-card-bills-aren't-going-to-come holiday "spirit."
I'm hoping cleaning out all of my closets this weekend will give me some perspective. I have gone through one and have four bags of clothing and such to donate along with stuff I should have thrown away years ago. If I can give all of this away, is there any reason I should be purchasing more? I think not. But if anyone else has any other ideas to exorcise this awful demon, I welcome them. Somebody please help me!
I think that once this mentality found its way into my head, it just started multiplying and telling me that everything I have isn't good enough and that I must have something NEW! Don't get me wrong, I like new things but they are usually something I don't already have. My desires are spreading and I must cure myself immediately.
The worst part of this is that it couldn't come at a more inopportune time. I'm supposed to resist these urges when all of America is being swept up in its annual let's-just-spend-like-our-credit-card-bills-aren't-going-to-come holiday "spirit."
I'm hoping cleaning out all of my closets this weekend will give me some perspective. I have gone through one and have four bags of clothing and such to donate along with stuff I should have thrown away years ago. If I can give all of this away, is there any reason I should be purchasing more? I think not. But if anyone else has any other ideas to exorcise this awful demon, I welcome them. Somebody please help me!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Well, it’s about time for the inevitable, isn’t it?
November 13, 2007 - Tuesday
I drove home (at 6:45 pm) with my sunroof open! Today was a deliciously sunny and warm day. I believe that, although I spent most of it inside, it was my day to say goodbye to the summer/fall. I went to my fountain. I walked more than a mile outside. I wore a tank top outside. It was perfect.
In my quest to be more optimistic, I would like to welcome winter with some good thoughts. (But not, however, without a warning to Mother Nature: I can handle the warm days in February, but please! no 60 degree days in December. Don't toy with my emotions when you have four months of cruelty left in you.)
These are a few of my favorite things about winter: red wine, hats!!!, no more need to explain why I'm not tan, cooking without sweating, wool socks, Netflix, hot cocoa, that weird silence during a snowfall, and my parents dog helping shovel snow (if I get to see it) like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnABUlvSXI
I drove home (at 6:45 pm) with my sunroof open! Today was a deliciously sunny and warm day. I believe that, although I spent most of it inside, it was my day to say goodbye to the summer/fall. I went to my fountain. I walked more than a mile outside. I wore a tank top outside. It was perfect.
In my quest to be more optimistic, I would like to welcome winter with some good thoughts. (But not, however, without a warning to Mother Nature: I can handle the warm days in February, but please! no 60 degree days in December. Don't toy with my emotions when you have four months of cruelty left in you.)
These are a few of my favorite things about winter: red wine, hats!!!, no more need to explain why I'm not tan, cooking without sweating, wool socks, Netflix, hot cocoa, that weird silence during a snowfall, and my parents dog helping shovel snow (if I get to see it) like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnABUlvSXI
Friday, November 9, 2007
What? I’m just asking!
November 6, 2007 - Tuesday
Sometimes while I work out I unfortunately have to watch TV news. It was tuned to CNN. I don't think that any TV news is worth watching, but it does provide me with some insight into why people are becoming more and more insulted/stupid.
While I was watching the "news" I was reminded of a bit on The Daily Show that I thought was priceless. As journalists (Yes, I used to be one; I still am in my book.) we used to argue about the use of question marks in headlines. Some believed it was a way of saying nothing at all and making the reader decide what the headline should be. Others thought it was just lame while still others thought it was a complete cop out. I was in the latter two categories, which is why I thought this clip was so funny.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=117466&title=the-question-mark
Sometimes while I work out I unfortunately have to watch TV news. It was tuned to CNN. I don't think that any TV news is worth watching, but it does provide me with some insight into why people are becoming more and more insulted/stupid.
While I was watching the "news" I was reminded of a bit on The Daily Show that I thought was priceless. As journalists (Yes, I used to be one; I still am in my book.) we used to argue about the use of question marks in headlines. Some believed it was a way of saying nothing at all and making the reader decide what the headline should be. Others thought it was just lame while still others thought it was a complete cop out. I was in the latter two categories, which is why I thought this clip was so funny.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=117466&title=the-question-mark
Monday, November 5, 2007
I’ll take a Big Mac and a Diet Coke
November 5, 2007 - Monday
Every night I take out my contacts and search blindly for my glasses. One would think that with my terrible vision and about 20 years of experience with contacts and glasses, I would change my behavior and find my glasses before I remove my little eyes. But I don't and probably never will.
Why are there so many things we do that make no sense? We are creatures of habit indeed, but can't we make our lives easier? A simple change in habit or schedule can make all the difference.
A girlfriend and I were talking about how your life can feel out of sorts with just the most simple of things: an unmade bed, laundry not folded. But sometimes you have to ignore all of those things and just take a nap. And there goes another behavior that makes little sense.
Every night I take out my contacts and search blindly for my glasses. One would think that with my terrible vision and about 20 years of experience with contacts and glasses, I would change my behavior and find my glasses before I remove my little eyes. But I don't and probably never will.
Why are there so many things we do that make no sense? We are creatures of habit indeed, but can't we make our lives easier? A simple change in habit or schedule can make all the difference.
A girlfriend and I were talking about how your life can feel out of sorts with just the most simple of things: an unmade bed, laundry not folded. But sometimes you have to ignore all of those things and just take a nap. And there goes another behavior that makes little sense.
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