Gate Crashers
Ok, I'm out of battery so the post I was going to write about those tacky people who crashed the White House will have to wait. But come on...what the hell is wrong with people? Last time I checked we were a nation at war....am I the only one who finds it sickening and sad that what's top news is a sleazy couple crashing a State dinner and posting about it on their Facebook page?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Work-Life Balance and FIO
It's been a really long time since I've blogged about my favorite topic, FIO. (Not sure what FIO means? Clearly you need to do some homework and familiarize yourself with this blog and the dominant theme in my life.)
I have to tell you: lately my blogging has taken a distinct FIO turn. Life is just too busy--I have a new job, kids, housework, a husband, some attempts at a social life that does not take place exclusively online, some semblance of an exercise regimen that I try to stick to, etc. In short: there are only so many hours in a day--24 to be exact. And when 8 of those hours are taken up at work and 2 commuting, that leaves 14 hours. Subtract 7 from that for sleep, and that leaves 7 hours to do all of those things listed above, plus stuff like grocery shop, recreate in some way or another...oh, and keep up with blogging, twitter, Facebook and all the rest of it.
The bottom line? There are not enough hours in the day for me to get everything done that I want to get done. If I didn't care about blogging I'd just forget about it, but for whatever reason blogging is my main favorite thing to do in life. Well, writing is, and since sadly no book deal has magically materialized, blogging is about the only for-fun writing I get to do. Like anything fun that people get addicted to: scrapbooking, working out, shopping, whatever--I have gotten addicted to writing. If I don't do it I start to go crazy and I'm already crazy enough, so I've learned to just make time for it and blog regularly.
The problem is that when you're on a tight schedule like I am, sometimes your blogging suffers. Like maybe the TV is on and you're sitting on the sofa next to your husband, who's giving you the stink-eye worse and worse with every passing minute and you're rushing to finish your post so you can be done with it and he can stop sighing and making snide comments about the computer. Maybe you get distracted, or cut corners on the thought you're trying to work through via that day's blog post. The result is a half-baked blog post at best; and one that's just flat-out wrong or offensive in a way you didn't mean.
My best example of this was when I wrote a post about Chris Brogan and something he said on Twitter. I was rushing to finish because one of the kids was bugging me to HURRY UP AND GET OFF THE COMPUTER so I cut my post off short (I have no idea what it was I cut but I distinctly remember that I had a larger point but I just stopped where I was because I couldn't take the whining anymore). Next thing I know Chris Brogan is tweeting the link to my post and lambasting me in the comments. In that case it worked out ok for me because that was the most blog traffic I have ever gotten, but still, half-baked is half-baked.
So twice in the past week or so I have FIO'd a blog post on my other blog. Read this post--then read the comments. Whoops. Now same thing with the post I wrote yesterday about Comcast and customer service--I meant the post to be about the larger issue of social media and customer service being kind of at odds with each other, with social media being done by people who are truly passionate about their jobs and their companies and customer service people usually, well, not so much. Then Social Media Today picked it up and suddenly a "meh" post in obscurity was seen by thousands of people.
Now Matthew (my 11 year-old son) has strep, I'm sick with something, the work-week has started, Thanksgiving is coming...and I have comments to respond to and need to email the poor Comcast guy to explain that I really didn't mean to take pot shots at him or Comcast in particular--I meant to talk about customer service in general and include other examples like Sprint, etc...but I was pressed for time and hit "publish post" before I'd finished my thoughts.
Sigh. Welcome to my world.
It's been a really long time since I've blogged about my favorite topic, FIO. (Not sure what FIO means? Clearly you need to do some homework and familiarize yourself with this blog and the dominant theme in my life.)
I have to tell you: lately my blogging has taken a distinct FIO turn. Life is just too busy--I have a new job, kids, housework, a husband, some attempts at a social life that does not take place exclusively online, some semblance of an exercise regimen that I try to stick to, etc. In short: there are only so many hours in a day--24 to be exact. And when 8 of those hours are taken up at work and 2 commuting, that leaves 14 hours. Subtract 7 from that for sleep, and that leaves 7 hours to do all of those things listed above, plus stuff like grocery shop, recreate in some way or another...oh, and keep up with blogging, twitter, Facebook and all the rest of it.
The bottom line? There are not enough hours in the day for me to get everything done that I want to get done. If I didn't care about blogging I'd just forget about it, but for whatever reason blogging is my main favorite thing to do in life. Well, writing is, and since sadly no book deal has magically materialized, blogging is about the only for-fun writing I get to do. Like anything fun that people get addicted to: scrapbooking, working out, shopping, whatever--I have gotten addicted to writing. If I don't do it I start to go crazy and I'm already crazy enough, so I've learned to just make time for it and blog regularly.
The problem is that when you're on a tight schedule like I am, sometimes your blogging suffers. Like maybe the TV is on and you're sitting on the sofa next to your husband, who's giving you the stink-eye worse and worse with every passing minute and you're rushing to finish your post so you can be done with it and he can stop sighing and making snide comments about the computer. Maybe you get distracted, or cut corners on the thought you're trying to work through via that day's blog post. The result is a half-baked blog post at best; and one that's just flat-out wrong or offensive in a way you didn't mean.
My best example of this was when I wrote a post about Chris Brogan and something he said on Twitter. I was rushing to finish because one of the kids was bugging me to HURRY UP AND GET OFF THE COMPUTER so I cut my post off short (I have no idea what it was I cut but I distinctly remember that I had a larger point but I just stopped where I was because I couldn't take the whining anymore). Next thing I know Chris Brogan is tweeting the link to my post and lambasting me in the comments. In that case it worked out ok for me because that was the most blog traffic I have ever gotten, but still, half-baked is half-baked.
So twice in the past week or so I have FIO'd a blog post on my other blog. Read this post--then read the comments. Whoops. Now same thing with the post I wrote yesterday about Comcast and customer service--I meant the post to be about the larger issue of social media and customer service being kind of at odds with each other, with social media being done by people who are truly passionate about their jobs and their companies and customer service people usually, well, not so much. Then Social Media Today picked it up and suddenly a "meh" post in obscurity was seen by thousands of people.
Now Matthew (my 11 year-old son) has strep, I'm sick with something, the work-week has started, Thanksgiving is coming...and I have comments to respond to and need to email the poor Comcast guy to explain that I really didn't mean to take pot shots at him or Comcast in particular--I meant to talk about customer service in general and include other examples like Sprint, etc...but I was pressed for time and hit "publish post" before I'd finished my thoughts.
Sigh. Welcome to my world.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday Catch-Up
Ok--so that last post was a cheat, sorry about that. So much for my blogging every day in November idea...you know the intent was there, right?
Aside from starting a new job last week--which includes a daily round-trip commute to/from Tysons--here's what I've been up to, in case you're wondering:
Ok--so that last post was a cheat, sorry about that. So much for my blogging every day in November idea...you know the intent was there, right?
Aside from starting a new job last week--which includes a daily round-trip commute to/from Tysons--here's what I've been up to, in case you're wondering:
- My last living grandmother died last Wednesday. Sad but also a relief--she was 97 and was on the decline for years now, then had a stroke a few weeks ago from which she never would have recovered. The good part of it was that it meant my sister, Cassie, came home for the weekend, so we got to spend Friday evening together--a rare treat.
- Speaking of Cassie and Friday, we went to see Precious. Mimi insisted on coming too, which, if you know Mimi, was totally out of character--she's usually not the most social kid on the planet. So I continued my WPE legacy and let her go to see Precious, which was, um, thematically mature, to say the least. For all the hype the movie got I have to say I wasn't that impressed--I gave it about a 6.5. Mo'nique was AWESOME, however.
- I just finished Augusten's new book, You Better Not Cry. It was like an early Christmas gift in its perfection; it's been a while since he's had a book of short stories out and these stories do not disappoint. I'm sad, though, because according to Augusten on Twitter, he and Dennis have broken up. Knowing this, I admit the last story in the book depressed me. But here's hoping for a Christmas miracle that they get back together.
- The main benefit (aside from time to actually have a phone conversation) of a long commute is being able to listen to audiobooks. The multi-tasker in me loves that I'm able to "read" two books at once--one actual book and one audiobook. I just finished Elizabeth Berg's We Are All Welcome Here and highly recommend it. If you need a happy ending to help you get through the holidays (not THAT kind! Nasty.) this is a great choice. Actually, if you want the most relaxing Christmas book EVER, it's Miss Read's Christmas at Thrush Green.
- Speaking of relaxing, my sister introduced me to this website and it's very relaxing in a hypnotic kind of way. If I had any free time, I'd be wasting it playing with that sand.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Fighting for Preemies
Did you know today is National Prematurity Awareness Day?
I am extremely lucky--even though Matthew was born almost 4 weeks early, by some miracle his lungs were fully developed and he suffered no ill effects from being born early (unless you count the fact that he didn't have nipples yet...apparently nipples don't develop until like 38 weeks gestation--bet you didn't know that.) However, he, like Mimi, did suffer from a serious form of jaundice and had to be in the NICU for 3 days. To this day--and that was over 11 years ago--I remember the tiny preemies in their incubators and my heart goes out to anyone who has to go through that.
I add my voice to the over 400 other bloggers who are posting today about the Fight for Preemies. While I was lucky enough to have 2 healthy kids, I know how many others out there are not so lucky. Or who had some really close calls, like my best friend Sadie. At her 20 week ultrasound, the doctor told her everything looked great and was walking out of the room when she happened to glance back over her shoulder. The ultrasound tech had taken one last pass over my friend's abdomen before turning it off and something about the shot caught the doctor's eye. She told the tech hold on, go back. She pressed my friends abdomen and realized with horror that her cervix was almost fully dilated on the inside--the uterus-facing side. Had Sadie gotten up off that table and walked out of that office she would have given birth within a few days and there's no way her baby would have survived.
She spent the weekend on bed rest at home, then returned on Monday for another ultrasound. The dilation was worse and they hospitalized her immediately, where she remained on inverted bed rest for 2 weeks. At about 22 weeks the doctor performed a cerclage--sewed her cervix closed--and sent Sadie home, where she remained on bed rest for 12 more weeks. When she gave birth to full-term baby girl, the doctor confided that when she'd done the cerclage, her cervix had been 100% effaced and dilated and the baby's tiny, tiny feet--encased in the amniotic sac--were protruding into her vagina! The doctor said that there was basically no chance the baby would survive but she had just sewn her up and not said anything, not wanting to upset her. But miracles do happen, and that baby is a healthy, happy kid today, thanks to that doctor's perseverance and Sadie's almost 20 weeks of bed rest.
Did you know today is National Prematurity Awareness Day?
I am extremely lucky--even though Matthew was born almost 4 weeks early, by some miracle his lungs were fully developed and he suffered no ill effects from being born early (unless you count the fact that he didn't have nipples yet...apparently nipples don't develop until like 38 weeks gestation--bet you didn't know that.) However, he, like Mimi, did suffer from a serious form of jaundice and had to be in the NICU for 3 days. To this day--and that was over 11 years ago--I remember the tiny preemies in their incubators and my heart goes out to anyone who has to go through that.
I add my voice to the over 400 other bloggers who are posting today about the Fight for Preemies. While I was lucky enough to have 2 healthy kids, I know how many others out there are not so lucky. Or who had some really close calls, like my best friend Sadie. At her 20 week ultrasound, the doctor told her everything looked great and was walking out of the room when she happened to glance back over her shoulder. The ultrasound tech had taken one last pass over my friend's abdomen before turning it off and something about the shot caught the doctor's eye. She told the tech hold on, go back. She pressed my friends abdomen and realized with horror that her cervix was almost fully dilated on the inside--the uterus-facing side. Had Sadie gotten up off that table and walked out of that office she would have given birth within a few days and there's no way her baby would have survived.
She spent the weekend on bed rest at home, then returned on Monday for another ultrasound. The dilation was worse and they hospitalized her immediately, where she remained on inverted bed rest for 2 weeks. At about 22 weeks the doctor performed a cerclage--sewed her cervix closed--and sent Sadie home, where she remained on bed rest for 12 more weeks. When she gave birth to full-term baby girl, the doctor confided that when she'd done the cerclage, her cervix had been 100% effaced and dilated and the baby's tiny, tiny feet--encased in the amniotic sac--were protruding into her vagina! The doctor said that there was basically no chance the baby would survive but she had just sewn her up and not said anything, not wanting to upset her. But miracles do happen, and that baby is a healthy, happy kid today, thanks to that doctor's perseverance and Sadie's almost 20 weeks of bed rest.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Blogging for Pay is BS
I know, I know--I'm a hypocrite: I wrote that blogging for money is like making your husband pay you for sex then next thing you know, my other blog, Mizz Information, is sporting shiny new Blogher ads. I know you won't believe me but I was curious to see how much money people actually make running ads so I caved and signed up for Blogher ads because I respect Blogher. I have to say, though, that almost 5 months in I am not impressed with the blogging-for-profit model as it relates to ads.
Here's my problem with it. I know money is changing hands in the whole equation because big brands run Blogher ads: Volvo, Sprint, Sony, Smuckers, Samsung, Phillips, Febreze, Cheer, Nickelodean, Pepperidge Farms, Loreal, Lego, Kraft, Estee Lauder, Ford...these are all actual brands whose ads have been featured on my blog over the past 5 months. I may know little to nothing about advertising but I know this: brands pay big money for it. In magazines, on TV, in newspapers and now, on blogs. I don't know how much they pay but I know this much: it's something.
This is what I do know: the total I've earned for running these big-brand ads on my blog over an almost 5-month period is $18. Actually, I can't really count it as earnings because they don't cut you a check until you reach $25.
I'm torn; on one hand, I don't like that Blogher is presumably making thousands off each of those brands--for all I know, tens of thousands, yet I, the content creator and publisher, am making pennies. At the same time, Blogher does frequently feature my posts at the bottom of the ads, therefore driving traffic to my site, which I do value. But I'm talking single-digit traffic, here; in other words, peanuts in the grand scheme of things.
I guess I need to figure out how important it is to me to have my blog be either ad-free or generating some kind of measurable income; because it's going to have to be one or the other, not both. I'm not in the business of giving huge brands free advertising on my blog--they don't need handouts from me and I don't need to look like a sellout yet having nothing to show for it.
I know, I know--I'm a hypocrite: I wrote that blogging for money is like making your husband pay you for sex then next thing you know, my other blog, Mizz Information, is sporting shiny new Blogher ads. I know you won't believe me but I was curious to see how much money people actually make running ads so I caved and signed up for Blogher ads because I respect Blogher. I have to say, though, that almost 5 months in I am not impressed with the blogging-for-profit model as it relates to ads.
Here's my problem with it. I know money is changing hands in the whole equation because big brands run Blogher ads: Volvo, Sprint, Sony, Smuckers, Samsung, Phillips, Febreze, Cheer, Nickelodean, Pepperidge Farms, Loreal, Lego, Kraft, Estee Lauder, Ford...these are all actual brands whose ads have been featured on my blog over the past 5 months. I may know little to nothing about advertising but I know this: brands pay big money for it. In magazines, on TV, in newspapers and now, on blogs. I don't know how much they pay but I know this much: it's something.
This is what I do know: the total I've earned for running these big-brand ads on my blog over an almost 5-month period is $18. Actually, I can't really count it as earnings because they don't cut you a check until you reach $25.
I'm torn; on one hand, I don't like that Blogher is presumably making thousands off each of those brands--for all I know, tens of thousands, yet I, the content creator and publisher, am making pennies. At the same time, Blogher does frequently feature my posts at the bottom of the ads, therefore driving traffic to my site, which I do value. But I'm talking single-digit traffic, here; in other words, peanuts in the grand scheme of things.
I guess I need to figure out how important it is to me to have my blog be either ad-free or generating some kind of measurable income; because it's going to have to be one or the other, not both. I'm not in the business of giving huge brands free advertising on my blog--they don't need handouts from me and I don't need to look like a sellout yet having nothing to show for it.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Penelope Trunk....Yes, Again
I'm not even going to bother searching this blog for posts to link to to prove my point that I'm obsessed with Penelope Trunk--if you read regularly you already know and if you don't you'll either have to take my word for it or search yourself. Anyway, my point is--I am obsessed with Penelope Trunk. And my worship of her just got two levels deeper today upon reading these two posts.
I'm telling you--she might be crazy but DAMN she ROCKS.
I'm not even going to bother searching this blog for posts to link to to prove my point that I'm obsessed with Penelope Trunk--if you read regularly you already know and if you don't you'll either have to take my word for it or search yourself. Anyway, my point is--I am obsessed with Penelope Trunk. And my worship of her just got two levels deeper today upon reading these two posts.
I'm telling you--she might be crazy but DAMN she ROCKS.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
FauxPaw The Techno Cat
Ok, so yes this is taking the easy way out, but it's 10:20 pm and my idea of a blog post tonight is share the first thing I clicked on from Twitter tonight. Hat tip to Ben Martin's daughter!
Ok, so yes this is taking the easy way out, but it's 10:20 pm and my idea of a blog post tonight is share the first thing I clicked on from Twitter tonight. Hat tip to Ben Martin's daughter!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
It Takes a Village
The one positive aspect of divorce is that, if both you and your spouse are re-married (or re-coupled) there are suddenly four parents in the equation rather than two. Granted, sometimes the merit of that equation is not appreciated by the kids--like when all four of us show up at their sports events. But now that my ex actually speaks to Patrick it's not bad; while we won't be going on double dates anytime soon or having extended "family" dinners together, it's actually quite civil.
Mimi is not one for affection in any case and let's just say the ex's girlfriend has had a hard time of it this past almost-year, since he introduced her to the kids last January. But tonight is a historic night: the night that Mimi voluntarily went somewhere with the girlfriend. Just the two of them. Well, actually, three of them--Mimi brought a friend. What prompted this outing? The girlfriend managed to get tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert.
Now, that right there is proof that there is something to be said for having two mother-figures, because I'm telling you right now: hell would FREEZE OVER before I'd take her to a Miley Cyrus concert. Or any other concert, for that matter.
Hopefully Mimi will realize how hard this woman is trying and cut her some slack.
The one positive aspect of divorce is that, if both you and your spouse are re-married (or re-coupled) there are suddenly four parents in the equation rather than two. Granted, sometimes the merit of that equation is not appreciated by the kids--like when all four of us show up at their sports events. But now that my ex actually speaks to Patrick it's not bad; while we won't be going on double dates anytime soon or having extended "family" dinners together, it's actually quite civil.
Mimi is not one for affection in any case and let's just say the ex's girlfriend has had a hard time of it this past almost-year, since he introduced her to the kids last January. But tonight is a historic night: the night that Mimi voluntarily went somewhere with the girlfriend. Just the two of them. Well, actually, three of them--Mimi brought a friend. What prompted this outing? The girlfriend managed to get tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert.
Now, that right there is proof that there is something to be said for having two mother-figures, because I'm telling you right now: hell would FREEZE OVER before I'd take her to a Miley Cyrus concert. Or any other concert, for that matter.
Hopefully Mimi will realize how hard this woman is trying and cut her some slack.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Not a Novel But....
Ok, so I can't commit to National Novel Writing Month....maybe I'll try National Blog Posting Month and actually post in here this month.
Unfortunately for you it will probably be about stuff like the fact that, despite trying my best to fight it, I remain shamefully obsessed with Jon and Kate. I don't watch the show anymore--the show itself actually sucks--but have been sucked into the tabloid drama of them. I'm telling you--it's the hair. People joke about her hair and say how horrible it is--for some reason I'm obsessed with it. The hair, the drama...it's just all so addictive for some reason.
Anyway, I usually don't watch the show--I don't like to give TLC the satisfaction of counting me as a viewer because I think the whole thing (despite my obsession) is horseshit. I guess it's the breaking up of their family that plays on my divorce guilt strings or something, because I am weirdly emotionally tied to their breakup--I feel personally let down and violated even though these may as well be cartoon characters. Maybe it's easier to watch other people go through divorce and feel sad than to look at your own situation too closely.
At any rate, I made the mistake of watching Kate--Her Story tonight. Mistake because a) her hair is all messed up and I'm sad about it; b) TLC got the satisfaction of sucking me in despite my best intentions to forever avoid tuning into that channel and c) because it's impossible to feel sympathy or harbor anything approximating a good feeling for Kate when you hear her talk. I try to believe she honestly cares about what's best for her kids--god knows she pays constant lip-service to it--but she is just so caught up in the fame and the money that it is painfully obvious that lip-service is all it is.
I had to turn it off when she pulled out photos of the kids she barely sees anymore since she's so busy with her public speaking, TV appearances, etc--and started going on about how can anyone question her devotion to her kids--after all, from the time she was 7 weeks pregnant till she was 30 weeks, she was on constant bedrest and didn't even EAT certain foods for fear of it harming her precious babies. Come on, lady--are you kidding me? She then went on to say that she HAS to continue doing TV because it is the ONLY way she can support her family. She literally said that it is her ONLY career option. Whatever--don't ask me why it riles me up so much but it does. Something about the whole situation just pushes my buttons. I swear it's enough to send me back to therapy....if only I had the time.
Ok, so I can't commit to National Novel Writing Month....maybe I'll try National Blog Posting Month and actually post in here this month.
Unfortunately for you it will probably be about stuff like the fact that, despite trying my best to fight it, I remain shamefully obsessed with Jon and Kate. I don't watch the show anymore--the show itself actually sucks--but have been sucked into the tabloid drama of them. I'm telling you--it's the hair. People joke about her hair and say how horrible it is--for some reason I'm obsessed with it. The hair, the drama...it's just all so addictive for some reason.
Anyway, I usually don't watch the show--I don't like to give TLC the satisfaction of counting me as a viewer because I think the whole thing (despite my obsession) is horseshit. I guess it's the breaking up of their family that plays on my divorce guilt strings or something, because I am weirdly emotionally tied to their breakup--I feel personally let down and violated even though these may as well be cartoon characters. Maybe it's easier to watch other people go through divorce and feel sad than to look at your own situation too closely.
At any rate, I made the mistake of watching Kate--Her Story tonight. Mistake because a) her hair is all messed up and I'm sad about it; b) TLC got the satisfaction of sucking me in despite my best intentions to forever avoid tuning into that channel and c) because it's impossible to feel sympathy or harbor anything approximating a good feeling for Kate when you hear her talk. I try to believe she honestly cares about what's best for her kids--god knows she pays constant lip-service to it--but she is just so caught up in the fame and the money that it is painfully obvious that lip-service is all it is.
I had to turn it off when she pulled out photos of the kids she barely sees anymore since she's so busy with her public speaking, TV appearances, etc--and started going on about how can anyone question her devotion to her kids--after all, from the time she was 7 weeks pregnant till she was 30 weeks, she was on constant bedrest and didn't even EAT certain foods for fear of it harming her precious babies. Come on, lady--are you kidding me? She then went on to say that she HAS to continue doing TV because it is the ONLY way she can support her family. She literally said that it is her ONLY career option. Whatever--don't ask me why it riles me up so much but it does. Something about the whole situation just pushes my buttons. I swear it's enough to send me back to therapy....if only I had the time.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Boo
What's new with you? Here's what's new with me:
What's new with you? Here's what's new with me:
- Successfully dodged my least favorite holiday--Halloween--last night.
- I have a new job--starting Nov. 9. Woo hoo!
- Augusten has a new book: You Better Not Cry. I am torn between trying to plow through the stash of books accumulating on my nightstand and buying his book today and putting it at the top of the pile. The pile might tip over, however.
- November is National Novel Writing Month. What's the percent chance I write one? I'd say about zero. But maybe I'll surprise you. My sister Cassie is writing one, though, so all will not be lost if I don't.
- I'm feeling very fancy today because if you do a search for "social media salaries" on Twitter right now, every single tweet is about the blog post I wrote. Gotta get your thrills in life somehow, right?
- If you were impressed by that last bullet point, here's my other recent claim to fame: I am featured in an interview in this month's issue of Associations Now magazine.
- Over the past 24 hours, I've developed an increasingly-annoying twitch in my lower left eyelid. What's up with that? I pray it doesn't turn into the year and a half long saga my last eye twitch did.
- I need to turn off this computer and get my ass on the treadmill.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Mother Blogger
Or I should say, mother OF a blogger. My 13 year-old daughter--nicknamed Wednesday--is a great writer. I have been encouraging her to start blogging and she finally decided it would be a good way to document her interesting dreams.
So with no futher ado go enjoy the first installment of Wednesdays' Dreams.
Or I should say, mother OF a blogger. My 13 year-old daughter--nicknamed Wednesday--is a great writer. I have been encouraging her to start blogging and she finally decided it would be a good way to document her interesting dreams.
So with no futher ado go enjoy the first installment of Wednesdays' Dreams.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
If It Bends...
I am such a delinquent Woody Allen fan that I can't remember which movie this quote came from; I do, however remember the character who said it was played by Alan Alda.
Ok, ok, I won't be that lazy--let me go look it up.....
It was in Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Sadly, Patrick hates Woody Allen so I never get to watch his movies anymore--I'll have to work on that.
Anyway, back to my original point. This thing with David Letterman and the whole extortion scandal? Fodder for Letterman to be talking about on his show or not? On one hand, I love it that he's not letting this guy get away with extorting him (can you use extortion as a verb like that?). The guy must have thought he was just brilliant and his plan was failproof--of course David Letterman would pay him $2 million to keep his escapades from the public. But fuck that--good for Letterman for doing the unexpected and outing himself and taking the humiliation rather than let that crazy guy exploit him.
Here's the thing, though--while I personally don't care if he cheated and I still think he's funny, what he's on TV to do is entertain people--not make them squirm. The first time he brought up the whole thing it was out of necessity--of course he's going to take advantage of the fact that however many millions of people were tuned in watching his show--what better time to beat the extortion guy to the punch. And the few jokes about the situation last Monday--"I spent the weekend raking hate mail" etc--ok, funny and an ice-breaker. But the plaintive admissions of how tough things are in his marriage, how hurt his wife is, etc--not funny. If there ever were a clear illustration of the point at which something bends (e.g. is funny) and breaks (not funny anymore), it is the 2 minute mark in this video.
While neither funny nor related--and also probably not even interesting to most of you but for some reason I'm sort of obsessed with it- the whole Jon & Kate thing is related in the sense that TLC needs to realize that it is no longer appropriate to air that show at all, even in the proposed "Kate plus 8" format. Maybe it's because I've been through a divorce and know first-hand how ugly it is and how nobody in their right mind would want to be a bystander to that, but the way the whole thing has gone down with Jon and Kate and TLC and the show and the tabloids and just all of it makes me incredibly sad for those kids.
If there's one cardinal rule of divorce that anybody should be able to understand, it's that no matter what goes down between the parents, you don't bring that ugliness to your kids. You may hate your ex or soon-to-be-ex and fervently wish he or she was dead; you may be incredulous that a person you once cared about enough to marry and procreate with can be this crazy or greedy or irrational or selfish or hateful or [insert your own negative characteristic here], but you always have to remember that this person who you loathe or who has caused you pain is still your kid's mom or dad and you don't put that on your kid. You just don't. They have enough to deal with adjusting to life with divorced parents. So for Jon and Kate to bring their ugliness to the whole world, and therefore into their kids' lives forever, is, in my opinion, inexcuseable. I will grant them that sometimes your emotions get the better of you and your judgement is impaired--and that's where I blame TLC for letting this whole thing keep spinning out.
What are they thinking, re-branding the show as "Kate Plus 8"? Because what those kids really need is the whole world to watch as they struggle with life after their parents' divorce? For everyone to think their dad has abandoned them?
I am such a delinquent Woody Allen fan that I can't remember which movie this quote came from; I do, however remember the character who said it was played by Alan Alda.
"If it bends, it's funny. If it breaks, it isn't."
Ok, ok, I won't be that lazy--let me go look it up.....
It was in Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Sadly, Patrick hates Woody Allen so I never get to watch his movies anymore--I'll have to work on that.
Anyway, back to my original point. This thing with David Letterman and the whole extortion scandal? Fodder for Letterman to be talking about on his show or not? On one hand, I love it that he's not letting this guy get away with extorting him (can you use extortion as a verb like that?). The guy must have thought he was just brilliant and his plan was failproof--of course David Letterman would pay him $2 million to keep his escapades from the public. But fuck that--good for Letterman for doing the unexpected and outing himself and taking the humiliation rather than let that crazy guy exploit him.
Here's the thing, though--while I personally don't care if he cheated and I still think he's funny, what he's on TV to do is entertain people--not make them squirm. The first time he brought up the whole thing it was out of necessity--of course he's going to take advantage of the fact that however many millions of people were tuned in watching his show--what better time to beat the extortion guy to the punch. And the few jokes about the situation last Monday--"I spent the weekend raking hate mail" etc--ok, funny and an ice-breaker. But the plaintive admissions of how tough things are in his marriage, how hurt his wife is, etc--not funny. If there ever were a clear illustration of the point at which something bends (e.g. is funny) and breaks (not funny anymore), it is the 2 minute mark in this video.
While neither funny nor related--and also probably not even interesting to most of you but for some reason I'm sort of obsessed with it- the whole Jon & Kate thing is related in the sense that TLC needs to realize that it is no longer appropriate to air that show at all, even in the proposed "Kate plus 8" format. Maybe it's because I've been through a divorce and know first-hand how ugly it is and how nobody in their right mind would want to be a bystander to that, but the way the whole thing has gone down with Jon and Kate and TLC and the show and the tabloids and just all of it makes me incredibly sad for those kids.
If there's one cardinal rule of divorce that anybody should be able to understand, it's that no matter what goes down between the parents, you don't bring that ugliness to your kids. You may hate your ex or soon-to-be-ex and fervently wish he or she was dead; you may be incredulous that a person you once cared about enough to marry and procreate with can be this crazy or greedy or irrational or selfish or hateful or [insert your own negative characteristic here], but you always have to remember that this person who you loathe or who has caused you pain is still your kid's mom or dad and you don't put that on your kid. You just don't. They have enough to deal with adjusting to life with divorced parents. So for Jon and Kate to bring their ugliness to the whole world, and therefore into their kids' lives forever, is, in my opinion, inexcuseable. I will grant them that sometimes your emotions get the better of you and your judgement is impaired--and that's where I blame TLC for letting this whole thing keep spinning out.
What are they thinking, re-branding the show as "Kate Plus 8"? Because what those kids really need is the whole world to watch as they struggle with life after their parents' divorce? For everyone to think their dad has abandoned them?
Sunday, October 04, 2009
You Must See Capatalism: A Love Story
I admit it--I'm biased--I LOVE Michael Moore. Remember my post about Sicko? I'm telling you--a) if you haven't already seen Sicko by now, you better rent it tonight. Especially given this whole health care reform thing. You know I don't like to talk politics or anything approximating anything political because it just pisses me off too much and I get all agitated and start talking too fast and too much and yelling and then can't sleep at night because I'm all riled up. So I will digress because I'm already veering off-topic...but just rent Sicko and see if you still don't think there should be universal health care in this country. INCLUDING a public option.
Anyway, back to my original thought--b) if you live in this country you need to see Capatalism. I will grant you that it's not as tight as some of his other movies and it took a while for even me--Micheal Moore-loving and gullible as all hell--to get sucked in, but he eventually got down to it and the result is a movie that makes me basically sad and embarassed to live in a country where shit like he reveals in the movie goes on.
**Spoiler alert, but not really because the movie will still be good**
Have you noticed that over the past few years there have been a lot more plane crashes than there used to be? I have commented to Patrick about this a bunch of times. It just seems like you never really used to hear about plane crashes, then in just the past few years, it seems like there have been a bunch. Anyway--when I saw Capitalism I realized there is a total correlation between what Michael Moore reveals and why there are more crashes. Namely--that pilots make no money and often have to either work second jobs, take extra shifts or, as one pilot in the movie explains, sometimes even sell their plasma to make ends meet. Yes, that's right--that dude who's flying you from NYC to LA may have just spent yesterday selling half his blood matter, which means he may not be in tip-top shape at 30,000 feet. I'll spare you the details but go see the movie and tell me if I'm crazy or you think there may be a grain of truth to what I'm thinking. That while airline CEOs are making a mint, the pilots are making less than McDonald's managers and subsisting on food stamps and second jobs. Sure makes me not ever want to fly again.
Worse yet are the "Dead Peasants" insurance policies. This guy explains it better than I would. You tell me why it is ok that something like this exists and why companies are ok with purchasing it? And cry me a river that Wal-Mart has apparently now cancelled these kinds of policies; like they should get a gold star for having done something as corrupt as this but cancelling it once the general public heard about it and the company's reputation was tarnished as a result. That's real noble. Did Walmart also give back the money to each dead employee's family?
Anyway, go see the movie. Check out Michael Moore's website. And pass it on.
I admit it--I'm biased--I LOVE Michael Moore. Remember my post about Sicko? I'm telling you--a) if you haven't already seen Sicko by now, you better rent it tonight. Especially given this whole health care reform thing. You know I don't like to talk politics or anything approximating anything political because it just pisses me off too much and I get all agitated and start talking too fast and too much and yelling and then can't sleep at night because I'm all riled up. So I will digress because I'm already veering off-topic...but just rent Sicko and see if you still don't think there should be universal health care in this country. INCLUDING a public option.
Anyway, back to my original thought--b) if you live in this country you need to see Capatalism. I will grant you that it's not as tight as some of his other movies and it took a while for even me--Micheal Moore-loving and gullible as all hell--to get sucked in, but he eventually got down to it and the result is a movie that makes me basically sad and embarassed to live in a country where shit like he reveals in the movie goes on.
**Spoiler alert, but not really because the movie will still be good**
Have you noticed that over the past few years there have been a lot more plane crashes than there used to be? I have commented to Patrick about this a bunch of times. It just seems like you never really used to hear about plane crashes, then in just the past few years, it seems like there have been a bunch. Anyway--when I saw Capitalism I realized there is a total correlation between what Michael Moore reveals and why there are more crashes. Namely--that pilots make no money and often have to either work second jobs, take extra shifts or, as one pilot in the movie explains, sometimes even sell their plasma to make ends meet. Yes, that's right--that dude who's flying you from NYC to LA may have just spent yesterday selling half his blood matter, which means he may not be in tip-top shape at 30,000 feet. I'll spare you the details but go see the movie and tell me if I'm crazy or you think there may be a grain of truth to what I'm thinking. That while airline CEOs are making a mint, the pilots are making less than McDonald's managers and subsisting on food stamps and second jobs. Sure makes me not ever want to fly again.
Worse yet are the "Dead Peasants" insurance policies. This guy explains it better than I would. You tell me why it is ok that something like this exists and why companies are ok with purchasing it? And cry me a river that Wal-Mart has apparently now cancelled these kinds of policies; like they should get a gold star for having done something as corrupt as this but cancelling it once the general public heard about it and the company's reputation was tarnished as a result. That's real noble. Did Walmart also give back the money to each dead employee's family?
Anyway, go see the movie. Check out Michael Moore's website. And pass it on.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
I Asked And I Received
I am either stupid or have a very thick skin, because even though Ask And Ye Shall Receive totally slayed me and my blog, I think the review is hilarious.
The thing is--they're totally right.
I am either stupid or have a very thick skin, because even though Ask And Ye Shall Receive totally slayed me and my blog, I think the review is hilarious.
The thing is--they're totally right.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Divorce Sucks
I'm supposed to be taking a self-imposed break from the internet for 24 hours but the book I'm reading isn't very riveting (or, I should say, books: Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed; Dr. Laura's In Praise of Stay Home Moms; Chris Brogan's Truth Agents--library for the first two and won the third on a contest on Twitter). That and, to be honest, I'm sad and distracted and can't concentrate on much of anything right now. Why? Because after 3 years of being divorced and struggling with custody issues, trying to do what's best for my kids and, admittedly, also wanting to avoid $30,000 in legal fees, I'm realizing I may not be able to avoid it. I don't usually go this TMI on this blog--or at least I haven't for a while--but tonight I just feel like it and, since I think I've skipped posting in here for long enough that nobody much is reading anymore, it feels like as good a place as any to air this.
The reason divorce sucks is because there are no easy answers. The kids are supposed to be with me tonight. At 7 their dad brings Mimi here. Not Matthew. Lately has been deciding that since Mimi won't stay with him anymore (long story...bottom line she basically sleeps at my house full-time now, with his consent) Matthew should stay with him more (NOT with my consent). So tonight he told Mimi let's go, didn't tell Matthew they were leaving, and he dropped Mimi here. I called his house and Matthew answered, said he didn't know daddy had even left. Here's the thing: what the hell do you do in this situation? Poor Matthew is trapped in the middle. I can't seem upset or mad to him or he'll feel bad and think it's his fault. I can't call Eric to discuss it because when I tried twice, Matthew picked up both times and I didn't want to let on to him I'm upset. If I kick up a fuss and get into it with Eric--or even if I calmly request that he bring Matthew to my house as is mandated by the custody agreement--it will make Matthew feel bad. So instead Matthew is there and I'm here and Eric gets away with this for the millionth time.
I already spent $500 having my lawyer send Eric a letter a few months ago telling him that I was "concerned about your unilateral changes in the custodial arrangements" and that if he didn't start sticking to the court-ordered custody schedule I'd be "forced to take stronger measures." Obviously the letter meant nothing to him; now it's on me to either allow my kid to slip away from me without protest or put him through some version of Kramer Vs. Kramer. Either way it sucks--I guess it's on me to decide which sucks least and do that. Which, at this point, looks like it's probably the expensive, potentially traumatic for the kids custody battle option.
Sigh. Wish us luck.
I'm supposed to be taking a self-imposed break from the internet for 24 hours but the book I'm reading isn't very riveting (or, I should say, books: Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed; Dr. Laura's In Praise of Stay Home Moms; Chris Brogan's Truth Agents--library for the first two and won the third on a contest on Twitter). That and, to be honest, I'm sad and distracted and can't concentrate on much of anything right now. Why? Because after 3 years of being divorced and struggling with custody issues, trying to do what's best for my kids and, admittedly, also wanting to avoid $30,000 in legal fees, I'm realizing I may not be able to avoid it. I don't usually go this TMI on this blog--or at least I haven't for a while--but tonight I just feel like it and, since I think I've skipped posting in here for long enough that nobody much is reading anymore, it feels like as good a place as any to air this.
The reason divorce sucks is because there are no easy answers. The kids are supposed to be with me tonight. At 7 their dad brings Mimi here. Not Matthew. Lately has been deciding that since Mimi won't stay with him anymore (long story...bottom line she basically sleeps at my house full-time now, with his consent) Matthew should stay with him more (NOT with my consent). So tonight he told Mimi let's go, didn't tell Matthew they were leaving, and he dropped Mimi here. I called his house and Matthew answered, said he didn't know daddy had even left. Here's the thing: what the hell do you do in this situation? Poor Matthew is trapped in the middle. I can't seem upset or mad to him or he'll feel bad and think it's his fault. I can't call Eric to discuss it because when I tried twice, Matthew picked up both times and I didn't want to let on to him I'm upset. If I kick up a fuss and get into it with Eric--or even if I calmly request that he bring Matthew to my house as is mandated by the custody agreement--it will make Matthew feel bad. So instead Matthew is there and I'm here and Eric gets away with this for the millionth time.
I already spent $500 having my lawyer send Eric a letter a few months ago telling him that I was "concerned about your unilateral changes in the custodial arrangements" and that if he didn't start sticking to the court-ordered custody schedule I'd be "forced to take stronger measures." Obviously the letter meant nothing to him; now it's on me to either allow my kid to slip away from me without protest or put him through some version of Kramer Vs. Kramer. Either way it sucks--I guess it's on me to decide which sucks least and do that. Which, at this point, looks like it's probably the expensive, potentially traumatic for the kids custody battle option.
Sigh. Wish us luck.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Long Time No Here
Well hello there children!
Long time no see/blog at. I'm afraid I continue to become increasingly boring, blogging only about social media. The thing is that it turns out it's so much easier to write regularly if I am confined by a certain topic. I never realized how much easier it is to write that way, but it's like ordering off a menu--the more choices there are, the harder it is to pick one.
But I digress.
Nothing much new here. Another summer over. Had lots of fun, read lots of books, saw lots of movies. I copied the deluxe Shelfari feature from my sister, Cassie's, blog so you can see what I'm reading there. They need to invent one for movies and I'd never have to write a word--just click on the pictures and add them to my shelf.
Well, that's about all I got right now...I'm going to try to branch out and write over here more so we'll see how that pans out.
Well hello there children!
Long time no see/blog at. I'm afraid I continue to become increasingly boring, blogging only about social media. The thing is that it turns out it's so much easier to write regularly if I am confined by a certain topic. I never realized how much easier it is to write that way, but it's like ordering off a menu--the more choices there are, the harder it is to pick one.
But I digress.
Nothing much new here. Another summer over. Had lots of fun, read lots of books, saw lots of movies. I copied the deluxe Shelfari feature from my sister, Cassie's, blog so you can see what I'm reading there. They need to invent one for movies and I'd never have to write a word--just click on the pictures and add them to my shelf.
Well, that's about all I got right now...I'm going to try to branch out and write over here more so we'll see how that pans out.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Example #1001 Of Why I Am A WPE
See this article in the WSJ called "Pursuing an Academic Edge at Home"?
Yeah, um,...I would never be pursuing an academic edge at home.
I worry about plenty of stuff, but one thing I can emphatically say I never worried about was my kids' math skills when they were 6. Or any age, for that matter.
Here's my thing: am I the only one who thinks that a better solution for a parent who is obsessed with their 6 year-old's math prowess would be Prozac? For the parent, that is; not the kid.
See this article in the WSJ called "Pursuing an Academic Edge at Home"?
Yeah, um,...I would never be pursuing an academic edge at home.
I worry about plenty of stuff, but one thing I can emphatically say I never worried about was my kids' math skills when they were 6. Or any age, for that matter.
Here's my thing: am I the only one who thinks that a better solution for a parent who is obsessed with their 6 year-old's math prowess would be Prozac? For the parent, that is; not the kid.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Dirty Moms
(I wrote this back in April but for some reason never posted it. Nothing better than stumbling across an already written blog post!)
I am not a morning person at all but have unfortunately had to become one--what with working and having to get kids to school. I have also had to become a morning exerciser, which is even worse than being just a regular early-riser. The thing I use as a carrot to get me on the treadmill at 6 am are my recorded TV shows: Oprah, Mad Men (I just keep watching the second season over and over), Intervention, etc.
So I was excited when I saw the Oprah line-up in the DVR: The Secret Lives of Moms. You know I'm all about hearing people's dirty secrets. And it was Oprah so of course it was going to be totally sensationalized--even better.
But I turned it on this morning and these were some of the "dirty" secrets Oprah's guests were revealing:
"Sometimes when I read to my kid at night I skip pages."
"Once, when I was on a 7-hour drive with the kids asleep in the back, I had to pee in a diaper."
"Sometimes I don't shower for a week."
"I bought the food for my kid's birthday party at the fast-food drive through."
Are you fucking kidding me? This is what you call dirty secrets? And bad mom confessions? Come on, Oprah--I expect more from you.
How about the moms whose diaper bags are actually full of those tiny liquor bottles like you get on an airplane? The ones who meet guys on the internet then meet them in the parking lot at the mall to have sex in the minivan? The ones who blow their doctors in exchange for Botox? The ones who embezzle money from the PTA, or steal jewelry from their best friends' houses or sleep with their neighbor's husbands? Or sleep with the other moms in playgroup? Or something--anything better than "Some days I just really don't enjoy taking care of my kids." You and every other mom on the planet.
Oprah's version of mom confessions should be like an episode of the Family Guy, where baby Stewie listens to the confessions and says "Oh, right--I get it--you're saying you're a bad mom because you skip pages when you read to your kid at night but you really mean look how great I am for reading to my kid at night in the first place."
(I wrote this back in April but for some reason never posted it. Nothing better than stumbling across an already written blog post!)
I am not a morning person at all but have unfortunately had to become one--what with working and having to get kids to school. I have also had to become a morning exerciser, which is even worse than being just a regular early-riser. The thing I use as a carrot to get me on the treadmill at 6 am are my recorded TV shows: Oprah, Mad Men (I just keep watching the second season over and over), Intervention, etc.
So I was excited when I saw the Oprah line-up in the DVR: The Secret Lives of Moms. You know I'm all about hearing people's dirty secrets. And it was Oprah so of course it was going to be totally sensationalized--even better.
But I turned it on this morning and these were some of the "dirty" secrets Oprah's guests were revealing:
"Sometimes when I read to my kid at night I skip pages."
"Once, when I was on a 7-hour drive with the kids asleep in the back, I had to pee in a diaper."
"Sometimes I don't shower for a week."
"I bought the food for my kid's birthday party at the fast-food drive through."
Are you fucking kidding me? This is what you call dirty secrets? And bad mom confessions? Come on, Oprah--I expect more from you.
How about the moms whose diaper bags are actually full of those tiny liquor bottles like you get on an airplane? The ones who meet guys on the internet then meet them in the parking lot at the mall to have sex in the minivan? The ones who blow their doctors in exchange for Botox? The ones who embezzle money from the PTA, or steal jewelry from their best friends' houses or sleep with their neighbor's husbands? Or sleep with the other moms in playgroup? Or something--anything better than "Some days I just really don't enjoy taking care of my kids." You and every other mom on the planet.
Oprah's version of mom confessions should be like an episode of the Family Guy, where baby Stewie listens to the confessions and says "Oh, right--I get it--you're saying you're a bad mom because you skip pages when you read to your kid at night but you really mean look how great I am for reading to my kid at night in the first place."
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Happy 4th
Whew, I'm coming over here to escape the drama shitstorm happening on my other blog right now. Apparently the secret to big blog activity is insulting internet big-wigs. All I know is that I think I just might make enough money off blogging this month to buy a #1 meal at McDonald's thanks to this whole exchange. I think I make $5 per 1,000 page impressions with BlogHer ads on that blog, and I think in the past 24 hours I've gotten over 500. Don't let anyone try to tell you making money blogging is easy--or for the thin-skinned. There are plenty of other ways to make $5 that don't involve having 20+ strangers point out what a stupid asshole you are for daring to criticize an internet celeb.
I'm tellin' you, it's hard out here for a pimp.
Compare blogging as a way of making money to being a lawyer--yesterday I had to visit one to address some custody issues that I'm getting sick of dealing with. His hourly rate? $325. If you want to make money, clearly being a lawyer is the way to go over blogging.
Anyway, a lot has happened since I last posted. Jon and Kate are no more, for one. I've seen a ton of movies--I can't even keep track anymore. Off the top of my head:
Transformers--rocked
Public Enemies--didn't exactly suck but was kind of a yawner
The Hangover--was pretty funny but not hysterical or anything
The Taking of Pelham 123--ROCKED
Night at the Museum--was ok
Land of the Lost--SUCKED. Sadly.
Angels & Demons--I think it pretty much rocked--saw it a while ago
Star Trek--rocked
Off the top of my head, that's all I can remember.
Just read an awesome book--Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by Augusten's brother, John Elder Robison. I LOVE this book and was sad when it ended. I sort of figured it probably just got published because he's Augusten's brother, but I have to say the book totally holds its own and he holds his own as a writer. He better be working on his next book because now I love him almost as much as I love Augusten.
I'm finally reading Ayelet Waldman's book and LOVE it so far.
One thing the combination of the blog throwdown and Ayelet Waldman's book is making me think about is social media as a career and how, while it seems to be tailor-made for women with kids (can work from home, set your own schedule, etc) I personally think it is one of the most time-consuming and intrusive careers you can pick if you're a women with kids. I'm not talking about a career like mine--doing social media for an organization; I'm talking about being a social media guru--writing books, blogging, speaking...AND keeping up with 80,0000 or more people on Twitter. Think about it--even if you're a lawyer or some other time-intensive professional--at the end of your 80 hour week at least you get to go home, play golf, watch TV, travel, whatever. If you're a social media celeb, when do you get a break? Never. Your work is YOU, basically--you are expected to be on 24/7. Ayelet Waldman's book is all about how it's impossible to be a good mother yet easy to qualify as a good dad.
I have to go to the pool with Patrick and the kids now (bad mommy blogging on 4th of July).
Whew, I'm coming over here to escape the drama shitstorm happening on my other blog right now. Apparently the secret to big blog activity is insulting internet big-wigs. All I know is that I think I just might make enough money off blogging this month to buy a #1 meal at McDonald's thanks to this whole exchange. I think I make $5 per 1,000 page impressions with BlogHer ads on that blog, and I think in the past 24 hours I've gotten over 500. Don't let anyone try to tell you making money blogging is easy--or for the thin-skinned. There are plenty of other ways to make $5 that don't involve having 20+ strangers point out what a stupid asshole you are for daring to criticize an internet celeb.
I'm tellin' you, it's hard out here for a pimp.
Compare blogging as a way of making money to being a lawyer--yesterday I had to visit one to address some custody issues that I'm getting sick of dealing with. His hourly rate? $325. If you want to make money, clearly being a lawyer is the way to go over blogging.
Anyway, a lot has happened since I last posted. Jon and Kate are no more, for one. I've seen a ton of movies--I can't even keep track anymore. Off the top of my head:
Transformers--rocked
Public Enemies--didn't exactly suck but was kind of a yawner
The Hangover--was pretty funny but not hysterical or anything
The Taking of Pelham 123--ROCKED
Night at the Museum--was ok
Land of the Lost--SUCKED. Sadly.
Angels & Demons--I think it pretty much rocked--saw it a while ago
Star Trek--rocked
Off the top of my head, that's all I can remember.
Just read an awesome book--Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by Augusten's brother, John Elder Robison. I LOVE this book and was sad when it ended. I sort of figured it probably just got published because he's Augusten's brother, but I have to say the book totally holds its own and he holds his own as a writer. He better be working on his next book because now I love him almost as much as I love Augusten.
I'm finally reading Ayelet Waldman's book and LOVE it so far.
One thing the combination of the blog throwdown and Ayelet Waldman's book is making me think about is social media as a career and how, while it seems to be tailor-made for women with kids (can work from home, set your own schedule, etc) I personally think it is one of the most time-consuming and intrusive careers you can pick if you're a women with kids. I'm not talking about a career like mine--doing social media for an organization; I'm talking about being a social media guru--writing books, blogging, speaking...AND keeping up with 80,0000 or more people on Twitter. Think about it--even if you're a lawyer or some other time-intensive professional--at the end of your 80 hour week at least you get to go home, play golf, watch TV, travel, whatever. If you're a social media celeb, when do you get a break? Never. Your work is YOU, basically--you are expected to be on 24/7. Ayelet Waldman's book is all about how it's impossible to be a good mother yet easy to qualify as a good dad.
I have to go to the pool with Patrick and the kids now (bad mommy blogging on 4th of July).
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