It's Christmas in Chicago!!!!

My first EVER real live tree!!!!!


Yes, there are, indeed, already some presents under it!!


I tried to hide his 'Charlie Brown' angle....




It seemed morally wrong (a stuffed animal on a wine bottle), however, I do believe he is of age in reindeer years....

What Constitutes Judgment?

So, recently, a good friend of mine was talking about how she was talking to a good friend about a problem and how said friend was really great about not judging her. However, this raised a question - what constitutes not judging someone? Is it not forming an opinion about someone's actions/situation, or simply doing a good job of masking said opinion?

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong), therapists and various other professionals are trained to hide any opinions or judgments from their clients. However, I've always thought 'man, I wonder what goes through their heads after some of their sessions'.

That, and is it really possible to not form an opinion on someone's actions, especially in some extreme situations? Yeah, there's that whole 'walk a mile in someone's shoes' bit, but does ANYONE actually do that? Is it possible to even prevent your mind from forming an opinion - even if you don't mean to, isn't it a somewhat semi-conscious snap reaction in the first place?

I know a lot of people who claim they don't judge - however, I do know from talking to them about various other people that they do. They just make a point of not doing it to the person's face.

What constitutes not judging someone? Is it not forming an opinion, or simply not expressing it? Is it possible to not form an opinion? Is there anywhere we can actually go to not be judged?

Expressions I Hate, AGAIN

The expression 'touch base'

As in, 'Let's touch base on this matter later' or 'I'll touch base with John'.

I hate it mostly because it's classic corporate speak. It has no use in real every day life. If it somehow does appear, it's either
a) force of habit (excusable) or
b) an attempt to sound more educated/important/dignified (horrific)

Anyhow. There's no real reason to choose these two words. It's an inflated way of saying 'talk about' or 'reach out to'. Who 'touches base'? Is yet another everyday expression relating to baseball? Don't people 'tag the base'?

Ugh. This reminds me of the pandemic 'All Your Base Are Belong to Us' back in high school. (Anyone else remember that?!?!)

Anyhow. I guess I don't really want to know the origin of this expression. I just watn to bitch about it. I'd ask if anyone else out there feels the way I do, but I googled 'the expression touch base' and one of the first responses was: 'when people use the expression touch base, do you have the urge to crack them in the chops?'

Does anyone like this expression? Anyone else find him or herself unfortunately using it from time to time?

For Those of my Readers Following So You Think You Can Dance, Season 6

Just one quick question...when will the finale be? Per my calculations, it should be, in theory, happening right around the week of Christmas. This doesn't seem logical with timing/ratings/etc. I have looked online in multiple places, including Fox's website, and I cannot find an answer. Does anyone know anything about this? Anyone else curious about this? Anyone else care about this post?

P.S. My favorite dancer, as of now, is Kathryn. I also like Russell. And Victor. But he keeps ending up in the bottom for some reason. There's a LOT of girls I could do without - Mollee, Ashleigh, etc. Ok, I will stop now.

How I Live

This is a single girl's apartment. No boys allowed!

Birthday Alert!!

So tomorrow is one of my very best friend's b-days! Happy 27th Emily!!

I'm glad Emily turns 27 before I do. She can tell me how it is. Like when you hear a loud noise outside and send someone else to check it out - let me know how it goes, Em, and if I should try to avoid it or not!

Giveaway!

So, some of my readers have expressed an interest in a giveaway. Well, there is an actual giveaway happening on one of the blogs I follow!

Becky's Blog - it's called Thyme for Wine - is hosting a giveaway. Becky - my favorite holiday food are chocolate chip shortbread cookies - I will post to your blog appropriately. Jaime - six points!

(Who is Becky? She's Emily's brother Doug's girlfriend! That's who!)

Anyhow.

What spurred the giveaway? Becky is up to 50 public followers! I will 'follow' in suit - when I have 50 public followers, there will be a giveaway.

Stay tuned & recruit!

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs

So, it appears as though everyone, everwhere, has a blog. How could I criticize another blogger? However, with many, I wonder how long they will last. I read a random statistic that said half the blogs currently out there won't be in existence six months from now.

What makes a blog have 'staying power'? Well, I suppose that, simply put, the blogger needs to keep having motivation to post. It's not like a business where it needs funds to operate. A blog doesn't necessarily need readers to operate - I guess this disproves that 'tree falling in the woods' theory.

However, the readers are helpful. What keeps readers coming back? Is it having a certain topic? I recently started following a couple of my friend's cooking blogs, and I've noticed they have a lot of followers. Another friend of mine blogs about her dating life.

What is this blog about? I believe we've had this discussion before. Deja vu. It doesn't have a particular theme. It's my thoughts. Well, I realize some of my thoughts are of no interest to others. Hmm. I guess if I'd have to pick my favorite thing to write about, it'd be my opinions on random observations I make (such as asking for a girl's father's hand in marriage, living together before marriage, etc.). Particularly, I like blogging about dating and relationships. Do people like my opinions/advice? Am I qualified to give them even? Do people take them? Hmm.

Actually, I like starting discussions/debates the best. Asking a probing question and getting some opinionated responses. That's the best part of blogging. I will try to do more of this....

Spelling and Grammar Watch....

Continuing on a theme of 'things people don't give a shit about'....

On page 76 of this month's cosmo, the word 'weirdly', is, ahem, 'wierdly' (SIC) spelled....

Wow.

I suppose this is one of the main problems of the written (or should I say 'printed') word....

My Top Five U.S. Male Figure Skaters at the Moment

Evan Lysacek. No explanation needed.


Brandon Mroz. I'm calling it now - rising star. I hope he makes the 2010 team.


Ryan Bradley. Although I'm not all that into the quirky style he embodies - he can bring it. He was the U.S. silver medalist back in 2007, I believe.


Johnny Weir. Great style, but I might be a little over him....


Jeremy Abbott. I like him but he doesn't stand out as much as the prior four.

Feedback

So lately, I've been getting some feedback from quite a few loyal readers, both online and offline, that they are sick of hearing about figure skating and so you think you can dance.

Sigh. And I was just going to post on my top five male figure skaters. Let's be honest, I probably still will.

However, I like to keep my readers happy. I've heard from several readers that they like reading my attempts at being deep (posts including, but not limited to, can guys and girls be friends, should a guy ask for his fiance's father's hand in marriage, does everything happen for a reason, etc.).

Do people really like those posts? What else are my readers sick of? The Old Navy mannequins?

I will try to think up a new, hard-hitting post.

Any recommendations? Anything in particular you'd all like to read about?

Forgive me, I maybe need to get some figure skating out of my system stilll.

Overrated Holiday?

New Year's Eve.

Now, I've done quite a few various things over the years for said holiday. Navy Pier. Bar Package. Night in a college town (well, only when I was a college student's age). Friend's house party. I know - aren't I quite the socialite?

Well, this year, it looks as though I have 0 plans. And that is fine by me. There is quite a bit of figure skating in the dvr and plenty of wine stocked in the grape. Granted, it is still early. Something could come up.

What are your thoughts on said holiday?