Fascinating

I had an amazing time last night at a karaoke bar for a friend's birthday. As a student of body language, it was incredible to watch what was going on around me as the night wore on and the booze flowed. I witnessed who wanted to hook up with who, who was so drunk they didn't care, and who didn't care that their intended was so drunk they should have cared.

Think a soap opera, but with a worse soundtrack and chicks bumping grinding and seeking way too much attention.

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Online dating "don't's"

Just received an email via an online dating site that opened with this.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL FOR 35......

Hmmm...thanks?

I find it best not to YELL IN ALL CAPS, but also leave out this phrase you are beautiful for "insert whatever thing could be negative" like "old" or "fat" or "missing teeth".

I think it best to let this particular prince find another maiden to woo

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Bird Sitting - Day 10

Bird sitting Day 10. Birdie likes me again - hates vacuum, door bells, and jazz tunes with a sax.

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Ping Pong Dominance Guaranteed!

I know how the US will dominate in Ping Pong. All we need to do is convince the IOC to add sneaking beer and making out while our parents are upstairs to the mix.

Go USA! Go USA!

Breaking Celeb News

Clay Aiken fathers a child. Air traffic controllers reporting plane/pig near mid-air misses.
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Way to go Iliza!

Iliza won LCS!

Sort of sad that she was asked how it feels to represent women comics. I think she was a bit startled by the question and she answered well. Just goes to show that women in this world are not quite there...yet.

Jeff will be fine in spite of third place. He is funny and certainly attractive, so TV will come calling. I hear he is being called "the cute one".

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Gonna put your eye out!

Estee Lauder and Lancome have put out battery powered oscillating mascara. Each vibrates at 7,500 and 7,000 oscillations per minute.

Apparently, this gizmo is in high demand and limited supply. Women are on waiting lists and production is around the clock to produce more.

Can't get one? Feeling inferior because your lashes are not as "defined, lifted and separated" as they could be, Dollface?
No need to attempt to wrinkle your frozen botoxed brow in sadness.

I have an idea, let's get a troop of folks with DT's to apply the regular old mascara to your eyes. Yes! That's the ticket! This way we are helping those who are struggling with alcohol abuse to put their affliction to good use. If they are unwilling, most retirement homes have enough people with the shakes to fill in. They will be happy for the company and you can eat jello and hear stories of the "good old days" when cold cream was all the beauty you needed.


What's next, high powered auto lipstick cannons?
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Derek. Sheen

I just got home from the Capitol Club where they have a comedy show every other Sunday night. I caught Derek Sheen set and am blown away. He killed.

I have known Derek for a few years and always liked him personally and as a comic. I wish more people were there to see it. I am sad that no one was taping it. He demonstrated what this scene is about with smarts, biting commentary, perfect timing and a distinct voice.

Incredible!

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Prom

Just got home from Lizzie's Birthday/Prom at The Deca Hotel.

The party was a blast. I wish my original prom was this much fun. Of course, my prom was on a boat, my BFF flirted with my date, and I came down with the stomach flu, so my standards were low.

Fun night!
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Why I love my neighborhood

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Makes American Idol look like Masterpiece Theater

The G4 channel has a game show that involves speed eating and stunts aimed at causing contestants to barf. The show, "Hurl" debuted this week.

The "winner" is the contestant who can hold it in the longest. The next show to debut is " Foot Fungus for Fun and Profit" followed by "Used Condom Volleyball Championships".

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Sign of the times

I was pandhandled by a young woman for "food or gas money".

Next, I expect to hear, "Spare change for my mortgage payment?".
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Last Comic Standing

I get asked a lot about what I think about LCS. I watched it last night and wonder if Jeff Dye is going to win.

Does he have years as a road comic who can spout of one dick joke after another? No. Is he a veteran of commercials or pithy comments on TV clip shows? No. Does he make funny voices or run around like a sugar crazed 8 year old at an unlimited cupcake party? No.

Then why could he be the winner?

He LOVES what he is doing and it shows. He has so much obvious joy in it that it pulls an audience in. They fall for him instantly.

Every time I have spoken to Jeff or seen him I knew he love comedy. He doesn't seem analyze every punch or tag or freak when he eats it . He loves comedy. Period.

Will see if the public feels the same and if he walks away with it.

Final note: if they went to the trouble of showing crowd shots of his parents, the producers must feel he is a strong bet.
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Beautiful morning

The rain has cleaned the air and it is a beautiful morning in the city. The ride over the lake should be lovely.

It is Seafair Weekend. Boats are arriving at the log boom, the Blue Angels are practicing and the city is gearing up for parties and noise. I love how we cram some sort of street fair or festival into the summer weekends. Its a sprint from Folk Life to Bummbershoot. We power up on outdoor pursuits to make the short days of winter more bearable.
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Maybe I have it wrong?

Sleep is not my friend tonight. It happens, am feeling a bit under the weather, so it is to be expected.

Have been thinking that maybe I have it wrong. Maybe day-to-day life is a series of monotonous tasks and boring meetings punctuated by interruptions and fire drills. Maybe we are all chasing some ideal that is fiction, at best.

Perhaps it is better to look for the random and beautiful moments of light, humor, and connection rather than some sugar-coated image of "happy" as the normal state of things.

I

What if?

Feeling reflective tonight.

What if?

I never strike it rich?
I never buy a big house?
I never buy a fancy car?
I never lose the last few pounds?
I never see Paris, Venice, or Rome?
I never get a "fancy" job title?
I never have kids?
I never get married?

What if?
What if?
What if?

What if I stop thinking about "What if" and become thankful for "What is".

Missed that sound

I am at home writing and am listening to the rain. I have not heard that sound for some time. It's nice.

(Remind me in January that at one time I missed the sound).

The best laugh

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Y4keqTV6w

I love this guy's laugh. Bless his son for posting it.

Enjoy!

Love does not happen on a TV show

Watching "reality" TV is making me ill. I do not watch lots of it, but what I have seen is breaking my heart.

Is it a contest? Is it a game show? Have we commodified it to the point of using it to sell ad space in two minute increments?

Love stories are compelling. "Love stories" coupled with 15 minutes of media attentiom are not.

To the darkside go I

Oh dear. It's happened. I am ONE OF THEM. I have now officially become a "jargon" person. I can utilize (oh crap! I mean "use") imapactful forward thinking leading edge solution based solution meta data to move strategic objectives and add value added deliver ables to the business cycle matrix. (No! Help!! What I mean to say is I can churn out documents for my job in whatever form du jour makes the muckety mucks happy and thus conforms to the buzz words everyone uses, but no one knows really means, which makes everyone feel that at least someone knows that the heck we are doing, when really we may be kind of winging it).

I will have gone over the edge when I contemplate doing a cost/benefit matrix to analyze the ROI (Return of Investment) of my relationships.

I think I need a vacation or go an ashram somewhere. This way I can sub in new-agey jargon. I can see if my spiritual charkas and universal guiding spirit is moving me in an integrated and holistic path of self-and-universal enlightenment in a consumer centered paternalistic capitalist male dominated world

Dear "Admin@Chase.com":

Dear "Admin@Chase.com":



This is in response to the approximately 15 emails you have sent me in the last 5 days notifying me that, "Your online credit card account has high-risk activity status." Firstly, I do not now, nor have I ever, had a Chase credit card. Therefore, I would certainly agree that this is, indeed, alarming. In fact, it would certainly backup the statement of "unusual activity in your account", that is, if I had an account with you in the first place.



I would like to state that offering me, and the 15 other people who are visible on the "To" line of these emails, the chance to "log in and perform the steps necessary to restore your account access as soon as possible" is certainly a great service had I ever had an account with you in the first place.

I would also like to point out that the statement "Your account access will remain limited until this issue has been resolved" is really the best course of action, as I, again, never, ever, ever, ever had an account with you--ever . And, as such, will not be logging into the system using the helpful link you have provided for this purpose.

Yours Very Truly,

A non Chase Bank Cardholder

P.S--in the interest of efficiency please pass this information along to your friends at Pay Pal who need me to perform the same actions, as I do not have an account with them either.

If Bill Gates can do it

Bill Gates has quit his day job.

Damn! I wish I could quit my day job. Lucky bastard.

Bill Gates realizes that there are far more capable people to take care of the day-to-day operations of his little software company just east of here. It doesn't hurt that the company has cash and assets of 50 billion dollars. It also doesn't hurt that he personally worth more money than many countries GWP's...combined...and then add a few zeros. Bill is going to focus on running his charitable orgaization.

Wait a second....Bill is on to something.

I am hereby stepping down from the of running day-to-day operations of Bryley, Inc. After 35 years I feel it is time to step aside and let more capable folks run my day-to-day operations. We have someone lined up for toothcare and cleaning, hair grooming, and nail maintence. We are taking a "leading edge" approach to dressing and have appointed a cross-functional commitee to deal with clothing/shoes/accesories.

A board of trustees will handle all matters of dating and socializing, as this is an area we feel a crack team of strategic thinkers, innovators, and fast-acting-forward -focused-asset-driven-go-getters will make meaningful inroads. This is the largest area of "growth opportunity" we have identifed. Exciting things are on the horizon and this team is up to the challenge! Full disclosure: we expect a high turnover in this area and will be sure to up our recruitment to handle resource turnover.

Soon we hope to develop a proven and innovative approach to getting her anywhere close to on-time. It has long been known, by "The Street" that punctualiy is key area operational area that has been under-utilized and shown a negative trending trend line. She was 3.2 percent more late that the same figures show for Q4/08. We think this will be turned around with an infusion of fresh operational synergery.

Bryley will focus her time on her charitible endevours. These include sorting through all the chartible organization mailers that chock up her mailbox and seperating her recyclables.

What's in a name?

What's in a name...


Given the trend of parents naming thier kids "unique" and "unusual" names, I feel my siblings (Rayn and Myla) and I need to raise the bar if we ever have kids. Soon there will be pre-schools full of "Apple's", "Moxie's", and "Shiloh's". ( For the record, other top contenders for my name were "Phoebe" and "Raspberry". Seriously. Raspberry - thank god my Dad intervened on this one.)

So, I have decided on the name of my child, should I ever have one. (I am not pregant, or planning on being pregnant in the near future.)

Popsicle Ukelehle Speed Muffin Umlaut Hyphen-Ampersand Jane Jensen Hull-(insert his last name here).

Top that Angelina! My kid will be the most orignial, most less -likely- to- ever- have- a -job- that- requires-a-nametag-because-my-parents-gave-me-a-wacky-name-to-show-how-original-they-are,-who cares-if-they-get-the-crap-beat-out-of-them -everyday-at-school name EVER!

My apartment building has a Free area in the laundry room. Its a cool feature and it a great way to get rid of usable stuff you dont want to toss out.



List of things I have seen on the Free table over the years:

* A Lonely Planet Guide to New Orleans (about a week after Katrina so sad).
* 8 Track tapes
* Military Training Manuals (what was the story there, I wonder)
* Law school textbooks from the 70s
* Gay Porn (it was on the table when I put my laundry in the washer, and gone when I put it in dryer.)
* Many, many little hotel bottles of shampoo and mini soap bars
* A copy of The Artists Way, next to blank canvases, oil paints, and an easel (clearly, they did not do their morning pages).
* Countless IKEA bookshelves and entertainment units with the hinges falling off and drawer pulls missing




The most remarkable thing was there today - a pack of Plan B emergency contraceptive pills.



What the hell happened to the women who put there? Did she eventually realize she and her one-nighter did use a condom? Did she start her period? Did she miss the 72hr window to take the pills? Did she take an early pregnancy test and find out she is pregnant and is now going to have an abortion? Did she decide she wants to be pregnant?



If at one time, you needed Plan B, would you give it away if you did not need it anymore? Would it make you take precautions so you will not need it again in the future?



I took a peek at the Plan B website and found this bit Because unprotected sex can happen when your healthcare professionals office is closed, you may want to ask your healthcare professional for a prescription for Plan B® in advance. How are we to read that statement? Unless you plan on having unprotected sex, m-f, during regular business hours, you should follow the Boy Scout Motto and Be Prepared?



It is going to be hard to see other women in my building and not wonder if they were the one who put the pills on the table, that's for sure.

As of this weekend, I know 6 couples who are getting married in the next year. Due to the increase of my friends/family members who are getting hitched, I am paying more attention to marriage, really the idea of it- than ever before. This does NOT mean I am hoping to get married in the near future. Far from it, rather, I am thinking about it more and picking it apart (like I do everything else in my life. Last year it a was 'how did we get into the Iraq war and how did it spin out of control into a total civil war" Blog post coming soon on that topic.).

I found this interesting article in the NY times because it made me really stop and think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/fashion/weddings/17FIELDBOX.html?em&ex=1167886800&en=eddc5880e17ea238&ei=5087%0A

December 17, 2006
Questions Couples Should Ask (Or Wish They Had) Before Marrying
Relationship experts report that too many couples fail to ask each other critical questions before marrying. Here are a few key ones that couples should consider asking:

1) Have we discussed whether or not to have children, and if the answer is yes, who is going to be the primary care giver?

2) Do we have a clear idea of each other's financial obligations and goals, and do our ideas about spending and saving mesh?

3) Have we discussed our expectations for how the household will be maintained, and are we in agreement on who will manage the chores?

4) Have we fully disclosed our health histories, both physical and mental?

5) Is my partner affectionate to the degree that I expect?

6) Can we comfortably and openly discuss our sexual needs, preferences and fears?

7) Will there be a television in the bedroom?

8) Do we truly listen to each other and fairly consider one another's ideas and complaints?

9) Have we reached a clear understanding of each other's spiritual beliefs and needs, and have we discussed when and how our children will be exposed to religious/moral education?

10) Do we like and respect each other's friends?

11) Do we value and respect each other's parents, and is either of us concerned about whether the parents will interfere with the relationship?

12) What does my family do that annoys you?

13) Are there some things that you and I are NOT prepared to give up in the marriage?

14) If one of us were to be offered a career opportunity in a location far from the other's family, are we prepared to move?

15) Does each of us feel fully confident in the other's commitment to the marriage and believe that the bond can survive whatever challenges we may face?

I can think of several couples whose marriages disolved because they didn't ask each other the quesstions above. If it were me, I would add a few more questions:

Are you a morning person? If I stay up till 4 am will it piss you off if you get up at 6, and I yell at you to shut up because I need to get some rest? (Just asking. Total hypothetical)


When you share a bed, do you somehow turn into a 300 degree ball of body heat and need to open all of the windows and throw the covers off because you feel like the firey furnaces of hell are in your bedroom? (Again, not that this applies to me).

Do you like to sit around watching bad reality TV feeling guilty because you have a bookshelf full of "important works of literature" that you had EVERY intention to read-but didn't get around to it because a re-run of "Beauty and the Geek" is on? (Again-this totally does NOT apply to me.)

Have you ever made a pan of fat-free browines, and while they were cooking, at half the jar of icing (not fat free)? Did you only buy the browines because you wanted a carrier for the frosting and was in such denial that you couldn't just buy the icing for the sake of eating it without the "cover" of making browines? (I have NEVER done this. EVER. Really).

If you were invited to family reunion for your wif-er...partner's family (distant cousins-hardly ever see them) are you afraid/intimidated/judgemental of people who wear "trucker hats", cowboy boots, and Peterbuilt belt buckles without any sense of irony? Can you eat your body weight in meat/potatoes/ambrosia salad? Do you like wine out of box? With ice?

Communication: The key to a lasting partnership.

The Secret?

have heard so much buzz about, "The Secret" that I am thinking about watching the movie. I did some basic research on the Internet and read a few reviews-both positive (downright glowing, in fact), and negative.

Here is what I have learned..

"The Secret" seems to lie with the "Power of Attraction". In other words, if you ask the universe for something-and you truly believe it, you will get it. Like the universe is a "catalog" and you just select from it with your correct "energy vibrations".

When I was five I wanted a pony and my little brother to turn into a Barbie Doll. Did I get this wish.? No. But trust me what I say this, I really really wanted to be free of my little brother.

Let me catalog a few things in my life that I have really really really wanted:

To be an astronaut.

To marry Ricky Shroeder (I was 11, but trust me, I really really wanted that. Tween heart throbs pale in comparison to the wholesome blond goodness of the "Rickster" circa the early 80's).

To be with , uh, that one guy from college. Crap. What was his name? Scott? No. Mark? Anyway, I really wanted him at the time, but I can't remember much about him now. Funny how that works. It's like my want was somehow..transitory. Almost like it was..better for me somehow in the long run not to end up with him. Strange. ...

I guess another premise of "The Secret" is that "great thinkers" of history have known The Secret and used it for themselves and we are "just now" getting the chance to use it ourselves.

Kept it to themselves!?! Didn't share it?!!? What a bunch of selfish bastards! How dare Aristostle and Abe Lincoln keep the secret quiet for so long!?! Jerks.

Look, I believe in being postive, open, working hard for what you want, and being less of an asshole when it is often easier to be more. I believe that it takes vision, desire and action to get what you want, and that it is not always easy to make your dreams real. But I hardly think "The Secret" is to want it bad enough for the universe to "give it to you" just because you "vibrate the right energy".

If you don't believe me ask my brother. The one that didn't turn into a Barbie Doll.

Trust account (not the Paris Hilton kind)

I read this and think it applies to so much more than the workplace. I can see it in any sort of relationship or group dynamic. The second bullet point applies esp. to dating.

I like the idea of trust bank account. I know many who are WAY overdrawn.

Workplace Coach: Building trust builds your career
Monday, May 14, 2007

By MAUREEN MORIARTY
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

The P-I is launching a new column offering simple, practical advice to advance your career. Maureen Moriarty, executive and leadership development coach and trainer, provides tips each Monday on how to succeed in the workplace. Whether you are on a challenging workplace team, a new manager or an experienced leader, these lessons from the Workplace Coach offer a best-practice guide to increase your effectiveness in the workplace.

Developing and maintaining trust is critical to success in your career, workplace teams, leadership and business. It is the foundation for individual and team performance. But trust can be difficult to earn and far too easy to lose.

Think of having a personal trust account much like your bank account. Every action you take with your customers, team, boss and direct reports is either a deposit into the trust account -- or a withdrawal.

If you overdraw, you risk bankruptcy. Careers and businesses can be derailed because of a single incident and overdraft on the trust account.

How do you gain and keep trust? This isn't rocket science -- more like everything you learned in kindergarten. Here are a few guidelines:


Do what you say you will do. If you commit to something, take responsibility and deliver. Better yet (to build overdraft protection), exceed their expectations. One of the surest ways to destroy workplace or client/customer trust is to overpromise and underdeliver. Avoid automatically saying yes to all requests. Know your limitations and resources. Commit to only those requests you know you can deliver on.


Be genuine and congruent. Most of us can spot a faker, pretender or workplace politician. Sometimes you can't put your finger on it -- you just know something about this person isn't trustworthy. A caution flag goes up in our hearts or gut that says, "Something is wrong with this picture." When the words the person is speaking don't match up with their non-verbal cues (the video we see doesn't match the audio we hear), we lose trust. Be mindful of the messages you are sending -- your tone of voice, eye contact and other non-verbal signs. Trying to fake or hide how you feel and what you think and want can increase the likelihood of others mistrusting you.


Be clear and concise in your communications (including e-mail!). Communicate to be understood. Ask others to repeat multifaceted instructions or complex ideas for clarity. If you are one of those people who use too many words or don't know when to stop talking, people may avoid you. Pause and let someone else in the conversation versus rambling or overexplaining yourself.


Listen well. Be careful about spending too much of your communication time in tell or lecture mode. Spend an equal or greater amount of your time listening to understand the other. By the way, if you are crafting your reply or rebuttal in your head while the other is talking -- you aren't listening. Many leaders spend too much time telling and not enough time listening. I've never heard a leader criticized for listening too much. To listen better, be curious, paraphrase (you'll pay closer attention if you know you have to summarize their words) and ask clarifying questions.


Avoid gossiping. What happens when you hear a co-worker back-stabbing another co-worker? Likely you make a note to self not to trust him or her because it's logical to assume one day you may be the target. If you have an issue with someone, have the courage and integrity to take it up with him or her directly. Back-stabbing is often a career derailer.


Generously give credit to others. Self-promoters are typically not trusted. Spend less time promoting yourself and more time giving credit to your team or direct reports.


Don't hide the truth. Be transparent with co-workers, bosses and clients/customers. Most of us don't like surprises and have no tolerance for being lied to or misled. It is often an "unrecoverable" in the trust account -- ask anyone hurt by Enron, Tyco and Worldcom.


Be flawless with your word. Honesty and integrity will get you everywhere. There is no better mantra for success and building trust in the workplace -- period.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pitogo/315518_workcoach14.html

Dear Neighbor,

Thanks,

for being up at 5:15 AM on a Saturday morning. I appreciate you letting your herd of lead-footed-ponies out so early to do step aerobics on the hardwood floors above my bed. Ponies need excersise early on a Saturday morning, clearly. So good of you to take such good care.

Thanks for banging around in your kitchen and yakking on your phone, too. Wait, maybe you were talking to the ponies?

I am so happy that I have the chance to watch the sunrise. I had not planned on watching it, because, silly me, I wanted to GET SOME REST today. On the bright side, thanks to you, I will be enjoying my day supported by caffeine and advil.

XXOO

Such a rebel

Such a rebel! (Cue the Elvis music)
A hightlight of the recent past has been to break the rules at the Seattle Art Museaum.

Yesterday, I went to see the new space. It rocks and you should go.

If you go, do not, I repeat DO NOT, chew gum and let of the guards see you. Seriously. I got busted by someone who probably has more college than I do, for chewing gum in the gallery. I was interogated if I had "read the signs" about gum on my way up the elevators. I clearly had not, but found myself wondering if I should swallow the gum or just hand it to her as she was so keen on me chewing it. I felt like a truant in the 50's and worried if I would get sent to the Vice Pricipal's office next because my poodle skirt is too short.

Later, I went to a sock-hop, got a cherry coke at the drugstore, and necked with a greaser at the overlook.

Hydration Assistance Fees?

I'm being charged for what?

Having just reviewed the last, and final, bill for a series of recent medical issues (I'm a-okay. Routine stuff, blah, blah, blah) I am ticked off. On my last bill, which is a summation of what I owe after Aetna "Was removing that hachet from your brain a pre-existing condition? No. We won't cover that", very nicely itemized my bill. One line item is "lab transportation fee--$38.45". What?! I was charged a fee to send the samples to the lab. Are you kidding me? Isn't the lab IN THE SAME AREA as the doctor's office in Swedish Hospital?!? Isn't First Hill infested with medical facilities, and one would assume, several labs that are in WALKING distance, if not the SAME BUILDING as the office/hospital?

Had I known I was going to be dinged for walking a sample down the street I would have done it myself. Ferchristssake!

I'm surprised they didn't charge me a "hydration and urine swabbing fee" for the water I drank prior to and TP I used when I peed in the stupid sample cup.

Dear Redwoood Patrons,

Dear Redwood Patrons,

Yes, you are interesting and posses infinite quantities of "cool".. I know this because you look like you stepped out a Pat Benetar video (not "Love is a Battlefield" because I doubt Red Light has WWII aviator helmets, but you get the point), even though you were not yet born when MTV played Pat Benetar videos (or played videos, for that matter).

I also know you are cool because I live across the street from the bar and am lucky enough to observe you in your natural drunken element. Of course, my level of cool and interesting has peaked, (circa Linda's, Moe's, and Eileen's (RIP) ) so the lessons of your hipness is lost on me. No problem. I appreciate the example you are so desperately trying to instill with your skinny jeans, shaggy hair, and heavy black eyeliner, but feel your message of what it is to be so hip is better served by not screaming as you walk down the block at night yelling at the top of your lungs after said bar closes. Sadly, your message is dulled as those of us that could most benefit are trying to get some f&*)ing sleep.

Thanks in advance for your time and inattention to this matter!

xxooxxoo

The Odyssey Years - We’re not aimless, we’re on a epic journey. Whew!

The NY Times recently ran an op-ed article that I found very encouraging. Apparently, the years between college and adult-hood are now extended since so many of us are not settling down. We are not aimless slackers-we are in the "Odyssey" phase. The Odyssey Years

"There used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age. Of the new ones, the least understood is odyssey, the decade of wandering that frequently occurs between adolescence and adulthood."

I feel much better about myself. I am not delaying adulthood, I am on a quest! Ha! So I don't have a house/car/boyfriend...I'm slaying things and wandering the world (okay-wandering Seattle, or sitting at home watching TV-but it's the Travel Channel so that has to count for something). I'm not a slacker, I am taking part in a new movement.. Whew!

I really like this part "Educated women can get many of the things they want (income, status, identity) without marriage, while they find it harder (or, if they're working-class, next to impossible) to find a suitably accomplished mate."

It's not me and my intimacy issues or complete inablity to flirt. It's not that I am totally oblivious to any sort of come-on and tblow any sort of dating life that I have on the second date..it's society. I am not at fault for my total lameness in dating, .it's my level of education. The NYT has spoken and I feel so much better! Yippeee!

So, if we are all Odysseyus what is the Cyclops? What enemy do we have to slay? Social Security? Global warming?

We’re not aimless, we’re on a epic journey. Whew!


I feel much better about myself. I am not delaying adulthood, I am on a quest! Ha! So I don't have a house/car/boyfriend...I'm slaying things and wandering the world (okay-wandering Seattle, or sitting at home watching TV-but it's the Travel Channel so that has to count for something). I'm not a slacker, I am taking part in a new movement. Whew!


I don't know, but I all of sudden feel much better at this moment that I lack a mortgage and boyfriend.

Tough times are ahead

Friends, dangerous times are ahead.

Am I speaking of an ever stronger Taliban presence in Afghanistan?
Further corporate scandals?
Increased home foreclosures and a stalling economy?
War?
Pestilence?
Plague?
Another republican in the White House?

No, I speak of a far more insidious enemy: An enemy that plies its evil trade under the guise of sweet innocence and adorable youth.

Girl Scout Cookie Season.

It is that time of year where unsuspecting adults are at the mercy of green uniformed little girls hawking gloriously baked carb and sugar laden evilness. Try to resist the pull of the coconut caramel crunchy mouth-watering perfection of Samosas. Try to turn away and resist the siren call of Thin Mints and Lemon Coolers! Peanut Butter Tagalongs melting in your mouth...Noooooooo!

Good luck, my friends, as we maneuver though these most treacherous of times.

My thoughts are with you in battle.

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