On Blogging

I've been itching to delete my MySpace account for quite sometime. Jen called it the Detroit of the Internet which gave a chuckle. It does seem somewhat forgotten with regards to social networking... maybe not so for music, but it seems as though many have shifted their efforts to Facebook. As for me, I simply don't use it any longer as a means to keep up with people so I think it best I remove it from my arsenal of social networking. I also think from here on out whenever I add a site I should probably rid myself of another because it all becomes a little much when I think of that which I keep up with.

The reason I have been holding off on deleting the account is because I had about 4 years of blogging that it contained. Today I finally took the time to print it out (Thanks for the paper and ink, work!) so that I could keep the hard copy and delete the electronic. It looks a little something like this.



That's pretty intense! It is a lot of writing. In fact, I wrote my first blog in December of 2004. I joined MySpace just a few months prior to that. It is funny read some of the entries and realize how ridiculous I sound. It also reminds me the ways in which MySpace was a bit of a phenomenon when it first started, actually connecting a lot of people who didn't know each other in another capacity. But alas, I refuse to wax nostalgic about MySpace. So, I've got my hard copy and I'm saying goodbye!

Oh, and on my way out I was reminded about the time this picture popped up MySpace.



Sorry to do this to you again, Jen, but I think these are good reminders of how far we've come!

"OPEN IT!"

So, screw the Oscars... check out Michelle Obama!



It seems as though this woman could teach Hollywood a thing or two about a red carpet entrance. Well played, First Lady.

I did in fact watch the Oscars last night and I think my viewing group collectively agreed that it was a successful awards show. I don't know when I could last say that, but overall I thought the ideas were well conceived and I thought the flow worked nicely. It seemed like they employed a lot of ideas that many of us who watch award shows (not sure exactly why we do, but...) think (often times aloud) "why don't they just do it like this?" Basic ideas that make sense and make the presentation more personal, relatable, and meaningful. So, cheers to whoever put that show together and "oops!" to the guy who couldn't get that curtain opened on time and had the guy yell at them over live tv "OPEN IT!"

Oh, and I didn't disagree with any of the winners. I thought overall they were all deserving. This year I actually saw most of the films (save Frost/Nixon, Frozen River and The Visitor), so in my humble opinion, those who won, should have.

You know, in unrelated news, this morning I was internally lamenting my wait for the bus, which then turned into silently cursing that I have to ride the bus, which turned into an utter annoyance at the people talking next to me on the bus because I couldn't concentrate on my reading. But then, I had some moment of clarity amidst it all. I actually started to listen to their conversation more closely and I don't even really know how to describe these people or what they were saying other than that we couldn't have been more different. If you were to judge us by appearances, probably profession, socioeconomic position, origin etc. you would not place me in a similar space with these people but as I sat and listened to their conversation after my initial annoyance I heard them talking about things that I would talk about, just framed in a completely different way. After I realized this, I immediately became thankful that I share a bus with people like this... and frankly any and all people that ride the bus because otherwise I could see myself becoming so singularly caught up in my world that I would miss out on the wonderful variety that life affords. And not simply variety, but the realization that we are all the same yet so deliciously different. That sounds cheesy and I'm annoyed that I am not able to articulate this how I want to right now, but let me say it like this: I wouldn't have traded sitting next to that loud and annoying conversation this morning for any quieter and more comfortable ride.

I'm off for now.

As Performance

I'm feeling especially contemplative these days. It started pretty hardcore the other night when I was watching age 28 of the Up Series. It prompted a rather intense conversation at lunch yesterday about where we see ourselves currently and how that lines up with expectations of where we should be etc. I guess watching age 28 really rang especially true for me because I am nearly there and it seemed as though many of the participants in the series had made some sort of arrival at 28. As though they had reached some sort of self realization about purpose and identity. I guess this made me question where I am in the midst of that. I personally don't feel like I've arrived in anyway and I wonder why that may be. I think the only thing I can attest to is knowing myself better. Handling situations better because I know my capabilities better than I ever have before.

This too is confused by a recent discussion in class about self as performance .... which got me thinking that when we say things like "I'm more comfortable in my own skin." maybe we're saying "I'm getting better at performing as me." I don't know.

It is also February, and you know what happens in February. *Waah Waaaaaah*
It was a mere 14 degrees this morning and as I walked to the bus I just thought how eager I am for the tips of my fingers to not be cold any longer.

I'm working on a mix for my friend. It was her birthday the other day and there will be a gathering in her honor tonight, so I'm trying to put together some danceable tunes. I'm finding this a challenge. It seems maybe my acquisition of new music has slowed. I have a lot of old stuff which I enjoy listening too, but may be kind of boring on a mix.

So, I've started to try and do something that I know a number of you will roll your eyes at. I've started to use Twitter. The reason I would roll my eyes at me is because I've been lamenting how I thought Twitter was simply too much information and I'm not interested in sharing or taking in that extra info. My brain is overloaded with useless knowledge already. That being said, I'm going to give it a try and with maybe less interest in sharing more of myself/learning more about others, but rather as a tool for information sharing. I won't explain fully right now, but I've started a Twitter for our office and I wanted to explore it from a personal end a bit too. I may not actually maintain it, but we'll see.

http://twitter.com/styleofafool

I'm off to Crust tonight, and quite looking forward to it. Let's hope the 6" of snow they say is coming our way, decides to head elsewhere.

Because Everyone's Mom is on Facebook

As I'm sure many of you have heard me lament, Facebook has reached an all new level of social awkwardness for me. It feels like a social hierarchy has somehow been broken and I'm willingly yet reluctantly participating in it.

So, along this theme you know everyone (if you're on Facebook) was doing this 25 "random" things about themselves, which I didn't do... but now I've given in. I'm going to buck the system though. I'm going to post them on my blog rather than Facebook. I also have to say that this was kind of an interesting exercise in self reflection.

1. Each morning I get up, turn on NPR, start my coffee and take a shower. This really never varies.

2. Speaking of coffee, it sits right up there at the top of my favorite things in the world. The thing about coffee is that for me it goes so much deeper than taste, and more into ritual. A cup of coffee to start the day or a cup of coffee for an afternoon break. And then, there is the after dinner cup. Love.

3. "Thank you" is huge with me.

4. I have a hard time buying jeans that are the right size because when I was young my mother used to preach that it was best to buy one size up because you never know what will happen. Subsequently, I think this is part of a bigger fat kid complex that I deal with.

5. I moved to Chicago thinking that I would live here a year or two. That was five years ago.

6. My laugh is absolutely ridiculous. It is high pitched and my body typically contorts. Oddly enough, I don't feel embarrassed about this. It seems like appropriate ridiculousness.

7. I often regret my inability to engage in the moment. I'm usually spending time being afraid I'm wasting the moment and planning for the future. As I get older, I do get better about this.

8. This is my fifth year of vegetarianism and I count it as one of my better life decisions. I'm not married to it as an identity but I really can't imagine eating meat… but who knows. I pretty much love everything about being a vegetarian, accept when I have to explain it at dinner.

9. I'm only on number 9 and I'm afraid that this whole thing is rather narcissistic.

10. I've somehow managed to keep friends that represent each different segment of my life. Early childhood to now and I am often reminded that it is rare and something I am thankful for.

11. I guess further on this theme, I have friends that are in different corners of the country and I often feel frustrated that I can't hop on a plane more freely to visit them. It seemed about a year ago that a large chunk of friends up and moved all at once. This is how life works and is something I tried to expect, but you can't replace those relationships.

12. Sometimes I can't stop relating everything to everything. For instance, if I'm reading a book it will invade every conversation. I think this is probably a bit annoying for those who spend any sort of significant time with me.

13. I have a terrible time watching movies at home. I typically fall asleep even though I want nothing more than to stay awake. This is one of the ways in which I know I am my parents' son.

14. I usually try to do too many things at once.

15. Number 14 makes me think that I've turned into exactly what my Father warned me he had become: a Jack of all trades and a master of none. I think I might be ok with that, though.

16. I'd like to be a bit more of a foodie.

17. That being said, I've begun to try and cook more as I think that process and ceremony is pretty special as well. I'm not that good at it, but I'm committing to keep trying.

18. I'm glad for the art of critical thinking.

19. I think in some ways I'm the ultimate consumer. I don't mean this with regards necessarily buying but I often feel obsessed with consuming some sort of media or information. To what end? I don't know.

20. I've had almost everything you could name stolen from me and I'm totally ok with that.

21. I take that back. I want the second bike that was stolen from me back. (and maybe that first laptop)

22. A mix CD is often part of my getting to know you process.

23. I broke my nose when I was 4, while running in a sprinkler with my eyes closed. I ran into a kid who was shorter than me.

24. I would like to convince everyone I know to dance and sing. I'm pretty sure that nothing feels better than doing one or both of these thing unabashedly and if you don't let yourself go there, you're missing out.

25. Ok, I think that is enough about me.

Get up!

I've been using a French Press the last couple of days. I bought it on Sunday rather than a replacement carafe because I thought even if and when I do buy a new pot, it'll be nice to have a french press to switch it up a bit. I quite like the taste, but I think the process of making the coffee and cleaning up afterward may be a bit more cumbersome.

Last night after class I made my way home to do some late night cooking. I'm finding I have such limited time these days that I really have to plan ahead, so given all my delicious purchases on Saturday I wanted to make myself some lunch for the week.

So, At 10pm I got down to cooking two meals. One was a fake lamb dish with brown rice, red peppers, and snap peas. Nothing fancy, but all good tastes. I also made huge bowl of pasta salad because I think it is something that holds up well over a few days. The salad has flax seed pasta, green beans, snap peas, cucumbers, red and green pepper, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and some Parmesan cheese. Also, nothing fancy, but fresh and crunchy and delicious. I'm looking forward to eating at lunch.

Upon everyone's recommendation I've begun to watch the "Up Series." I've only made it through two the of DVDs and it is blowing my mind. I keep thinking about the ways in which these people's lives may turn out and then I can't help but wonder the ways in which my life might look documented in this way. I recommend spending some time with these DVDs if you haven't already.

I have to go run errands.

Recovery

I've got a cold coming on.
I can feel it.
I didn't sleep well and then this morning I began to feel it in my throat.
Now it is in my eyes and I feel generally tired and sickly, so I imagine I will have a full fledged cold in a day or two.

BUT

Let's assume otherwise, because I don't feel in the mood for a cold.

Ryan and I made our way to the Asian supermarket this weekend where I picked up some more of the semi magical faux ham that Robin introduced me to. It really blows my mind and I know that people who aren't vegetarian like to make fun of vegetarians for eating things that are supposed to taste like meat, but I don't actually care. I don't care, because this stuff tastes awesome and it allows me a flavor without ingesting all the junk that comes along with eating meat. Anyway, that rant aside, I also picked up a number of other delicious ingrediants, mostly Vietnamese and I'm nothing but excited to cook with them. I already made myself a delicious soup last night.

Actually, before we made our way over to the market we enjoyed one dinner at what I think may be one of my favorite restuarants, Tank Noodle. It is incredible and for some reason on Saturday evening the combination of noodles and vegetables and broth... well, it all just hit the spot. I'm getting all hot and bothered just thinking about it right now. Follow it up with a bubble tea and it is just one helluva meal.

I'm well into my Anne Lamott book and I'm realizing I already read it, but I don't mind. I'll read it again. I'd like to think that if I were to synthesize some of my thoughts on faith more clearly they would come out like hers.

I have one final abbreviated story/confession to end my my post today.
Last night, I deleted my friend's DVR.
The truth is, I didn't do it. The DVR fritzed out and I had no choice but to take action that resulted in deleting all the saved programs and I'm feeling monumentally guilty about it.
The funny part is, that when I tell people this they all seem to say something like "Well, Steve was able to recover Giles and Mimi for Miranda..." and I have no choice but to respond that these shows are in fact deleted. Gone. Poof! And although I can imagine worse offenses and I don't know how much responsibility actually situates itself with me, but but but I'M SORRY, LINSEY.

:D

Foresight

I don't think I've mentioned here yet that my carafe to my coffee pot is broken. I don't even know exactly how it happened but I imagine it had to do with me being careless with the dishes in my sink. This is one of those things where I feel caught in the middle of investment and immediate purchase. What I'm saying is, that I have a nice coffee pot that was given to me as a gift and I know the replacement carafe will not be cheap. Therefore, it seems like I don't even want to look into ordering a new one... but if I don't it will only be a matter of weeks before I have spent just as much on buying coffee shop coffee.

I hate foresight.

It is actually Friday today. I'm feeling good about that.
I want to do some catching up this weekend.