The Best Thing About Facebook

Ok, I know I've been through this before.  And I know all my readers probably think I'm, ahem, obsessed with facebook.  (I take the fifth on this one.)  But I think I've officially decided upon the best thing about facebook.  And it's not, as Seth Meyers so aptly said, watching one's high school friends slowly get fat.

The best thing about Facebook is...drumroll please...consumer reports.

Recently, my cable bill with rcn went up. I contemplated, for a moment, switching to Comcast. However, I seemed to think that I'd seen some negative statuses (stati?) about Comcast and Comcast customer service.

"Has anyone out there had a good customer service experience with Comcast?" I asked. Former coworkers, fellow dance students, and high school and college classmates all weighed in.

I've seen quite a few 'stati's like this in my feed. 'iPhone or android?' 'kindle or nook?' 'fitbit or striiv?'

It's also a great forum to gather others' stories. I'm friends with several journalists. I've seen them post asking about if anyone has any experience with a certain situation. My former journalist self is jealous that this wasn't around years ago - it's an easy way to gather quotes.

Anyhow. In short, what I love best about the 'book is that it can be a giant forum for gathering (presumably) honest reviews and information.  What are your fave things about the book?

Coffee Withdrawals

So, for reasons, ahem, better left unsaid, a doctor told me recently to cut back on my coffee intake.

I was in his office discussing, ahem, personal concerns.

"Let me ask you this," he said.  "How much caffeine do you drink?"

"Umm.  A lot.  Probably more than I should."

"How much is a lot?"

"Umm, around 4-5 cups of coffee a day."  (Approximately two pops a day omitted - I was going to mention them, but his eyes already got huge with shock.)

"That amount of caffeine wouldn't be good for anyone," he said very seriously.

He wants me to cut back to 1-2 cups a day.  I am right now working down to 3.  Baby steps.

I rand this by a facebook audience.  Some were equally appalled by my intake.  Others said 'pssh, I drink that much, screw the doc.'

I am in the process of trying to listen to my doctor.  What are your thoughts?  Do any of my fellow readers drink this much Joe?  Anyone have any good tips on getting off the caffeine addiction?  Every day I'm dragging by 9pm and falling asleep on the couch.  I don't have to wake up early for work, so I don't, in general.  So I am very well-rested and exhausted and dragging, all at the same time.

Anyone else struggle with vices?

Spelling Bees & Childhood Trauma

So the other day, I was talking to someone about another person who is going through a rough time, but he is a quiet person who is not overly emotional, so it is getting forgotten.  Now, I immediately feel for this person because I am not necessarily vocal about my emotions.

This reminded me of a personal experience.  I was in the fourth grade.  I was one of two representatives for my class for the spelling bee.  I will protect the not-so-innocent and not mention anyone in this story by name, despite the fact that I really, really want to.  I can only imagine this other individual doing a quick google search of himself and seeing himself exposed for this not-so-shining moment.... Anyhow.

In short, both the other representative and I got eliminated and did not go on to win the bee.  I held it together like the mature composed serious young woman that I was.  This other individual did not.  I remember lots of crying (we're talking hysterical sobs) and the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to making this individual feel better.  We all got homework (myself included) to do something to make him feel better the next day (make a poster, bring in a snack, etc.).

The next day we had a huge party for him.  There were banners, there were balloons, there cookies galore!  I remember there was one tiny sign that said 'Good work, Jaime!' - I guess someone remembered I'd participated in the bee as well.  I remember thinking this was largely unfair.  It wasn't that I wanted this big fest for my own swing-and-a-miss, or even that I was upset about not winning.  And, what about all the other students in the class (who didn't even qualify for the spelling bee in the first place)?  Weren't we all equally failures?  How come the one person who was being all loud and emotional was getting all the attention and celebration?

I know they say 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil', but is that really fair in life?  I can't help but think that sometimes people like me, who aren't overtly emotional, at times have their feelings forgotten.  Is anyone else out there like me and feel this way?  Has anyone else had a similar experience of being forgotten because he or she was not throwing a hissy fit? I know I've had some friends say to be more vocal about my emotions at times, but it's just not my nature.  Your thoughts?  

Recurring Nightmare

I know everyone has them.  I had one other other night.

In this specific dream, I was trying to complete a simple task (check if my dance class was canceled on its website).   In this dream, I thought class was canceled, so I wasn't planning on going, but then my friend Rachel texted me saying she thought it wasn't canceled.  It was right at the time I would have needed to leave, and I wasn't dressed or ready.  So, I began a race against the clock trying to check online if it was canceled.  However, I kept having simple little problems.  I was mistyping the website.  Then I was clicking and it wasn't going through.  Then my phone froze.  Then, finally, in a flurry of frustration, I woke up.

However, in my constant recurring nightmares, I am trying to complete a simple task (like change the channel on the tv or put on a sweater) and I, for some reason, can't.  I keep running into roadblocks.

Does anyone else have this kind of recurring nightmare?  What do you all have for recurring nightmares?  Naked in public dreams?  (I used to have those too.)   Is one of your nightmares that this blog turns back into 'Jaime's dream analysis'?  Don't answer that.  

The FitBit Challenge

So, through my work, I received a 'FitBit'.  My entire company is part of a 'FitBit' challenge   This handy dandy little device measures my daily steps, miles traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and general activeness.  Additionally, it sends me happy little messages.  Gooooooaal Jaime!  Stepgeek Jaime!  Hug me Jaime!  Walk me Jaime!  Sometimes, when I'm peeing and it says 'Faster, Jaime!', it freaks me out!

Anyhow.  I think it's really quite accurate at noticing when I'm active vs. when I'm not.  Some days, when I feel like I've done nothing, well, it reaffirms it to me.  It lets me know I've barely burned any calories and hardly moved.  Not what I wanted to hear, but sometimes we all need a reality check, right?  I feel it's succeeded in motivating me to get up and move on those days when, otherwise, I would have been content with nothing.  I am liking this fun little device.

Update to come at the end of this challenge.

Traditional & Predictable

Snoopy Mother's Day!

Gratuitous Hailey Pics

stretched out in bed

climbing into the bowl to eat

sleepy times

napping on mom's lap (this shows her size well)

next to big brother Lou 

(the jury is still out on his feelings toward her)

So Sorry....

Too funny.  I have wanted to say this to several friends on several occasions.  

Long Distance Relationships

So, today, on an online dating site, I received a message from a man in Hawaii.

Why?

This has happened to me on a couple occasions.  Why is this?  Is it an act of desperation?  Is it someone just not paying close attention?

I remember speaking to a man on this matter who did online dating.  He told me a story:

A very attractive woman (or, more accurately, someone with a profile picture of a very attractive woman) from another part of the country contacted him.  He was flattered.  He tried to have general conversation with her.  He noticed she's said a couple things that were odd/grammatically incorrect, but he'd thought maybe English wasn't her first language.  She'd continued to contact him.  He found it odd because she'd lived several states away, but continued to talk to her.  He asked her if she was ever in the Chicago area.  She then went into "Well, I would love to visit the area, but I cannot afford the plane fare."  He smelled a rat.  She then went on "My mom has been sick lately, I really want to visit her, but I'd need to borrow some money for the plane fare...."  He 'reported a concern'.

Are 95% of people from other parts of the country scam artists?  Or are they really desperate?  Anyone meet anyone from another part of the country online and it turned out being real?  

Officially An Adult?

I remember seeing a facebook friend post something about officially feeling like an adult on the day she received a poinsettia as a gift from a student.  It wasn't when she graduated college, got engaged, got a job, bought a house, moved in with her significant other, got married, or got pregnant, but rather, the moment when she received this gift that she officially felt like an adult. 

I had a similar moment when I voluntarily prepared brussels sprouts as part of a meal.  At the time I was 28, had been living alone for several years and was financially independent.  But yet, this random moment hit me.  

How about you?  What was your 'holy shit, I'm an adult' moment?  I firmly believe this is something that sneaks up on you - it's not in one profound moment (a college graduation, a first day of work, etc.), but rather, etched into the details of daily life.   What was your moment?

Splitting The Bill

I went on a first date with a man I met on a dating website.  He initiated the first contact, we had a couple good conversations.  He suggested we grab drinks.  We met up for drinks.  Over a series of about three hours, we chatted about our jobs (we are in the same line of work), various places we liked hang out, our backgrounds, etc.  Because we shared several interests, the conversation was fairly easy.  He mentioned more than once that he was having a nice time with me and that he would like to go out again.

The bill came.  As always, I did the typical 'grab for my wallet'.  Since we were sitting at a bar, he had gotten there first and given the bartender his credit card to start a tab.

"We can split it," I said.

He looked at me.  "Sounds good."  

I'll admit, I was a little surprised by this.  I pulled out a $20.  "I'm just going to put it all on my card," he said.  So, he grabbed my $20 and gave me $5 back.  He then closed out the bill and left an unimpressive tip.  We headed out.  He mentioned, again, that he'd had a nice time and suggested we hang out again.  I gave a fake smile and a 'mmm-hmm'.  We parted ways.

************************************

He was officially done in my book at the moment he let me pay for myself.  I know this is questionable ground.  I ran this situation by several close girlfriends.

"Did you like him?  If you liked him, go out with him again.  He should have paid for you, but it's not the worst thing."

Whether or not I liked him was completely tainted by the end incident.  During the date, things had a positive spin.  He bought a fancy wine the other night?  Earlier, that meant he had good taste and appreciation for nice things.  Afterward, he was cheapass who has no problem spending money on himself.  He spoke about how his recent career advancements.  At first I thought it showed ambition and a value of hard-work.  Afterward he just seemed like a conceited braggart.  

Anyhow.  I know this is a point of contention amongst men and women.  Several of my guy friends say they always pay for a girl and feel that not doing so is simply 'douchey' behavior that doesn't warrant a second chance.  It's not necessarily that I think "the man pays for the woman", but I see it more as a "who asks, pays" kind of deal.  Often times, if I'm out with a guy for a first date, I will have no problem paying for some portion (a round of drinks, the cab ride, etc.), however, a split down the middle is a complete and total deal-breaker.  However, I suppose some might see it as old-fashioned.

What are your thoughts?  Is it ok to split a bill on a first date?  Should a girl give a guy who lets her pay for herself a chance?  Is it old-fashioned to believe a man should pay for a woman on the first date?  What are your thoughts and experiences, dear readers?  

Windy City Live

So this past Monday, I was in the studio audience of Windy City Live!  It was awesome!  My roommate from freshman year of college won tickets and invited me to go with.  This was my second time being on a TV show (I was on The View back in 2008).  I can be seen several times throughout this episode.  Also, here are some pics!  I wasn't familiar with Windy City Live prior to this, but I have to say - great lil show!  I will definitely be watching from now on.