Social Media...

So, social media has kinda become a staple of our society, wouldn't you agree?

I see so many people getting upset by other people's posts, finding them to be offensive for one reason or another, and I see it spilling into real life. Seriously. Does it really matter that your Barber has the TP roll hanging from the back not the front to the point that you're going to find a new barber? NO, just be passive aggressive and change it whenever you visit the loo there. (I might or might not have a few secret compulsive behaviors).

I have a set of "Life Rules" that I laid out for myself YEARS ago (like in HS I refused to date people I went to school with, and then when I broke said rule life blew up in my face. Twice.) I'm a First Generation Internet User, starting way back when AOL was your everything (and then became your tool to get on the internet and nothing else), and I have always had the policy that if you aren't comfortable having a conversation about something in the middle of the grocery store line it doesn't belong on the internet. Period.

We recently had an election, maybe you heard about it? It was a big deal, and it mattered, BUT my personal politics did not. I voted early and mailed in my ballot and hoped that people weren't just voting based on their religion (or lack their of) or making pretty patterns on the ballots. Generally speaking, I don't care what the royal "you" thinks about politics or religion or even if you think the sky is purple. Specifically, I love to have one on one conversations with people that have the same AND different thoughts than I do. Privately. With adults, and the stipulation that getting butt-hurt is not allowed. What's the point of having a brain if we can't agree to disagree?

Welp. Thank you anonymous readers, you have once again provided me with a much needed mental break from the tedium that is the behind the scenes part of my job. Until next time....

Is it safe?!?!?

It's late so I'm not sure how good of an idea this is, but I just read a 500 page book of absolute crap and I felt like putting some good grammar in my head before attempting sleep.. (If you're wondering, you should imagine an energetic CPR instructor waving his hands like an umpire when reading the title of this post. To this day he is one of my favorite instructors.)

Thanksgiving is next week. Growing up it was always huge, and we'd go to a specific relative's house and spend the day making merry. I've always been not-so-secretly sentimental and one of my favorite things has been hanging onto and making traditions my own.
I can't cook for squat (I once tried to make grilled chicken for 7 on a one person George Forman grill. Another time I burnt a pan trying to boil water.)
Anywho, since the only good I am in the kitchen is as a food taster, obviously we can't host Thanksgiving. I've always done my best to see as many people as possible in that one day, my record sits at 9 T-Day meals attended in one day, but last year was different. Just the hubby, Monkey and I. I don't understand why I stressed myself out all those years. Last year I got to spend the morning cleaning, ate a reasonable amount and wasn't swimming in leftovers for months afterwards. It was great! Screw people! Let them take care of theirselves, I'm wearing sweat pants and not showering! (Kidding, at least about the showering part).
This year there is a HUGE to-do happening and I want no part of it. After experiencing a wonderfully calm version of things, I almost want to be a hermit from Thanksgiving to New Years and get fat on latkes (one of the few things I CAN cook). I think the compromise is that we're going for dessert, and I can live with that. It's a lot easier to get a piece of pie than an entire meal when there's 20-something people together, and I'm counting on the turkey to slow my competition down.. ;)

So you know, if you care, I almost didn't ramble at you for the last half hour (that's how long it took me to write this, hopefully you read quicker than I type), but Monkey fell asleep in my bed and when I went to move him to his room he freaked out on me and is next to me hogging the bed. If you find me at all witty, you can thank my stubborn little man for deciding I don't need more than 5 inches of bed to sleep on and inspiring me to late night ramble at you. I hope he never grows out of his "my mommie is my favorite person ever" stage. It's an awesome feeling. :)

You are my Sunshine....

Here's something that drives me crazy. People that use the phrase "you'll never know how much ::insert something here::". Seriously, that doesn't make you some sort of martyr, what it makes you is a coward, especially since the dreaded "L word" is usually part of the annoying phrase. Now I just opened a can of worms and I'm not sure which to address first, but I promise to attempt to address all the squirmy worms. ;)

Every night when I put my son to bed I sing him 4 or 5 lullabies from my childhood as part of our nighttime ritual. Besides inserting his name into every song I have made (what I feel to be) an extremely important modification to a line in "You are my Sunshine". Originally it says "you'll never know dear, how much I love you..." and I have changed the Never to Always. I spend every waking moment of my life loving my son more than air itself, and even at such a tender age, I know without a doubt, if I were to be struck dead tomorrow my son would have no question to the depth of love I have for him. And that's the way its supposed to be. If he didn't know that, it would be a failure on my part. Love is one of the most important gifts we have to offer, and we should NEVER be too afraid to let the ones that have it, know it.

Which brings me to another personal peeve of mine. Just because I helped you with your groceries doesn't mean you love me. Also, just because we had an instantaneous bond doesn't mean we need to call it love. I cannot stand people throwing around the L-word like it's a hanky. It makes me feel awkward when someone I truly enjoy (but do not have love-like emotions towards) say they love me. I'm not big on lying, but total honesty is rude, so I end up fumbling through the rest of the encounter. I do have people that have carved out special places in my heart, and I DO love them, and make attempts to appropriately tell them so when I can. I feel like anything else here would be me talking in circles so if I haven't made myself clear, sorry, it happens. ;)

Totally switching things up on you...

This weekend is one of my favorite parts of the year. Twice a year my mom helps throw what I lovingly refer to as "adult camp". She's been involved since before I could drive, and I think I've been helping since I was 14? 15? (Whenever I started, its the longest "job" I've ever held). It probably confuses people since I am very open about my lack of labeling my spiritual beliefs yet twice a year I serve food to those at a religious retreat, but it's a part of me. These people have known me most of my life and have actually watched me grow up, in a way that not a lot of people have, they're like extended family to me. Even though I personally have never participated in the event I feel connected to the leaders and feel a deep need for it to succeed. Heck, I recently went to a church service (I was visiting family) and I could tell there would be a compatibility between the class that leads up to the event and the teachings and I said so. This year has a bit of a twist, the responsibility of finding workers to help fell to me, so everyone on "my team" has personal ties to me which is not something I have experienced. It will make things easier I hope. 

Aaand with that, I will end my ramblings for now. Until next time!