A Grammar Rule to Start the New Year....

One of my biggest pet peeves....

Happy New Year all!

2009 in a Nutshell

As the old year comes to a close, some stats of 2009....

Number of job changes: 0
Number of moves: 1
Number of blog posts: 323
Number of trips out of town: 2
Number of romantic relationships: 0
Number of times my personal romantical life appeared in Emily's blog: 3
Number of incidents that could be classified as 'car trouble': 2
Number of friends (per the facebook.com): 723
Number of blog followers: 12
Number of broken New Year's Resolutions: 3
Number of blogs I'm following: 10

...and a partridge in a pear tree?

Who Picks Whom?

Ok, back to one of those dating/relationship/men vs. women posts that everyone (hopefully) doesn't hate....

So one of my male coworkers (who is a little over ten years older than me and married for around seven years, I believe) shared the story of how he met his wife: a simple, somewhat typical story - she approached him in a coffee shop. He ended the story with the comment 'I believe that women choose the men they end up marrying. It isn't men choosing their women, it's women choosing their men.'

Now, I personally respectfully disagree. Although we've all gotten more modern - what with dating websites and girls asking guys for dates, etc., I've always felt that the men hold the keys on this one. Typically (or, at least, more often) men approach women, men ask women out, men make the first move for the kiss, men propose. Granted, yes, the woman can reject the man at any of these stages, and yes, a woman can walk away if the relationship isn't moving at the speed she would like it to be (which gives her some control), and yes, a woman can be forward and initiate any of the aforementioned steps in a relationship, but I feel, more often than not, it's the man in the driver's seat. Perhaps in my coworker's situation, he was approached by the woman, so perhaps he was 'picked' if you will, but I feel this situation falls into the minority.

However. An interesting twist to this situation - I was talking to one of my other male coworkers (close to my age, in a relationship but never married) and I ran this theory of 'women pick the men they marry' by said coworker and he completely and totally agreed.

Is there something I'm missing? Do other women feel the way I do? Do other men feel the way my coworker does? Who picks whom? All I know is that I don't believe I've necessarily been 'sitting around, waiting to be picked', if you will, but I also haven't actively 'gone out and picked' (again, if you will).

I'm torn as to how I feel about this theory - I've always kind of resented the old-fashioned notion that I was supposed to wait for the guy who picked me - I'm a modern woman with my own opinions, interests and preferences; perhaps the person who picks me doesn't necessarily fit what I want. However, in the same sense, I would like to be pursued and courted. I kind of agree with the 'He's Just Not That Into You' theory - if a guy wants me (or any girl for that matter), he will take action, and, well, don't we all want the guy to initially want us?

Hmm. Your thoughts?

Hum...

So, today at lunch, a friend of mine made a random reference to Eeyore (whilst describing someone's demeanor). It seemed completely random; I have not heard much, if at all, about this guy lately.

I am reminded that one of my good friends picked Eeyore as her favorite of the Winnie the Pooh group.

The funny thing about this guy (or at least, what I know of him), is he seems so sad and downtrodden and generally bummed out that he'd be shocked to know that anyone picked him or even, well, thought of him at all. For this reason (and for the fact that, at times, I share his general outlook), I must say - I kind of like the dude.

What are everyone's thoughts on Eeyore? Anyone else pick him as a favorite?

New Year's Resolutions (or, at Least, those Acceptable to Post in a Public Forum)

--Cook and bake more often (deja vu)
--Increase upper body strength (deja vu AGAIN)

(Editor's sidenote: Is 'deja vu again' not the ULTIMATE redundancy?)

--Publish a good amount of interesting, relevant blog posts that people are excited to read
--Stumble upon wealth

Any suggestions to add?
Updates to come....

O Christmas Tree

So, as you may or may not know, this year, for the first time in my life, I got a real Christmas tree. It has been lovely and spectacular!

So now that the Christmas season is over, it would seem appropriate to, sooner or later, take said tree down (along with the rest of the X-Mas decorations). However, there's a small issue.

It's still alive.

I am NOT a cold-hearted killer. THAT, and this tree has become part of the family...err...part of the apartment. I can't just put it on the side of the road in the cold weather with no water. How could someone do that? Has he/she no heart?!?!

So, I've made a decision. I will take the ornaments off. I will take down all the other decorations in my apartment. But the tree will stay until the end of its natural life. It will be a festive, decorative, seasonal 'neighborhood' tree, if you will. My neighbor across the way left his Christmas present-shaped lights up all year 'round. This is acceptable for my apartment building. And, my former roommate used to like to leave the decorations up until Valentine's Day - I already have experience in celebrating the holiday for an extended period of time. Yes. This SHALL work.

Anyone else feel the way I do about live trees? I'd say I'm definitely getting another live tree next year, but hey, maybe I will still have this one!!

Some X-Mas 2009 Highlights

30 Ways of Looking at Hillary

Yes, I've already started reading it. Review to come.

Merry Christmas All!

Amex Gift Cards

Now, I have been on the receiving end of these a few times. I love receiving them just fine. I'm certainly not complaining. All the pleasure of a gift card without the limitations of where to shop. Lovely.

However, I have one gripe about these (and for this reason refuse to buy them as gifts for others, ever) - there's some ridiculous service/activation/what-have-you fee.

What, praytell, is the point of ever giving one of these as opposed to cash? Yeah, I get it, there's something maybe a little more formal/professional looking about these, and yeah, I'm sure there's some safety lost/stolen guarantee of some form (although I don't really know), however, it all seems pointless on a denomination less than $100.

Anyhow. I think, for this reason, these are a sham. Like bottled water, if you will. However, much like bottled water, these sure have taken off. Your thoughts? Anyone buy these/give these as gifts? Anyone see a point to them as opposed to cash?

Checkin' It Twice

(click to enlarge)

Well, it's good to see I'm finally getting the credit I deserve....

Let's see if this pans out to anything. Update to come.

My First Christmas Present of the Season!!

That middle gift is the Lolita "Wine Tasting" wine glass!



Welcome home!




I'm gonna need a bigger shelf!

Thanks Emily!!

Yet ANOTHER Expression I Hate....

...when people take the pronoun out of a reply. For example - something I heard today:

"Appreciate it."

It made me wish I hadn't held the door for her.

Where's the I? I feel like people take the pronoun out to sound more professional or savvy or fast-paced (I don't have time for all the words that belong in this sentence!). Ugh.

In googling the subject, I found this line I couldn't agree with more: pronouns are like condoms, always use one. Thank you. Thank you very much.