Blog Takeover: Day #3

In case you're just tuning in, this is a blog takeover. I'm Erin from My Way This Time, a reemerging blogger with a brand new blog. Check out my other takeover posts: Day #1 and Day #2.

*****

A while ago Katie posted about her exploits adventures with Omegle. I knew I just had to try it because nothing else says "fun night in" like talking to complete strangers who may or may not be serial killers in the desert of Nevada or emo preteens staying up past their bedtimes with intentions of cybering.

I signed into Omegle with my fingers crossed that I wouldn't get stuck with a complette psycho but also had the reassurance that I could disconnect in a moment's notice. I was greeted with, "Hi, please don't be a weirdo." I knew I was going to be fast friends with this stranger who obviously shared the same phobia of being with weirdos. "I'm not a weirdo. Are you?"

We carried on an hour long converstaion of witty banter back and forth which including talking about secret spies, our general personal information, and football. Come to find out, this stranger is even a journalism major at a college in Alabama. What are the odds? A journalist getting paired with a journalism student? Needless to say, we then got lost in a conversation of journalism nerdness that only fellow journalists will understand or even care about. It was surreal.

We exchanged emails to keep in contact and signed off. What the effing eff? How does Katie get stuck with weirdos that talk about horny gorillas and convicted felons? Oh wait, nevermind, that was HER. I digress.

After such an amazing first encounter with Omegle, I've been hesistant in signing on again. I really didn't want to get stuck with some weirdo that just wanted to know my a/s/l and if I wanted to cyber. (For the record, I'm f/2osomething/Fl and NO I DONT WANT TO CYBER.) Last night, however, I was feeling spunky so I braved the trecherous waters of Omegle from the safety of my iPhone in bed.

Annnnnnnd I got stuck with this guy.

Clearly this guy needs to be schooled in the art of masturbation.

*****

I've got two more posts lined up for you guys then I have to leave the safety of Mama Katie's nest blog and go out on my own. If you haven't already, check out my new home over at My Way This Time and follow me on twitter -- @MyWayThisTime.

Until tomorrow -- Erin @ My Way This Time

Blog Takeover: Day #2

When I quit "professionally" blogging in April, I completely deleted my blog and all of it's existence. I unsubscribed to any and all blogging networking sites (ie 20sb) and deleted my Twitter account. However, I didn't quit reading my favorite bloggers. I kept my commenting specifically for those that I liked the most and felt the closest to, I even added some of them on Facebook. (Hi, Facebook IRL friends! Yah, we can still be friends even though I'm trying this whole "anonymous" thing.) I eventually got another Twitter account and added my favorites.

With all of that being said, I have been out of the blogosphere for some time now. I've forgotten what it feels like to get comments and feedback from readers. I've forgotten what it feels like to get advice and words of encouragement from "strangers." I've forgotten what it feels like to make new Twitter and Gchat friends. But most of all, I've forgotten what it feels like to be part of a community. I never really participated at 20sb. I've never met any blogging friends in real life; I feel like I'm BFF's with some of them even though we've never laid eyes on each other. I felt like I knew their lives thanks to their blogs. But since 2010 is all about starting over, I'm ready to change that.

There's a little thing going down May 20th to 23rd in Vegas called (appropriately enough) Bloggers in Sin City. You may have heard of it, no? Well, I want to go. Granted, "wanting to go" and "actually going" are two completely different things. Financially, I don't know if I'll be able to afford it. Unfortunately freedom and rejuvenation in 2010 also mean I'm down from two salaries to one... and mine is measley right now. However, that is not going to stop me from at least attempting to go. I think it will be barrels of fun and a great way to meet some of my favorite irl imaginary friends and bloggers.

I know it's Saturday and that means a drastic decrease in blog readership, but I've got some homework for you guys.

• Are you planning on going to Bloggers in Sin City? If yes, what are you looking forward to the most about the blogger meetup?
• Since I've been out of the game for some time, who are some bloggers I MUST READ? Maybe it's you, maybe it's your imaginary or irl BFF, or maybe it's just your favorite blogger. Leave the URL below.

Have a good weekend and I'll see you right here Monday.

Erin @ My Way This Time

Blog Takeover: Day #1

This is not Katie. I repeat, this is NOT Katie. This is a blog takeover. Katie has decided to take a little time off until Christmas and reluctantly graciously allowed me to fill in until then. Now, end impromptu introduction and cue premeditated blog post.

Hello fellow bloggers, freaders, and tweethearts.

I'm Erin, a once retired blogger trying to navigate my way back into the blogosphere. After an identity debacle, I was forced to shut down my blog which I created in 2008. I reopened another blog under my real name but found this incredibly tiring because I couldn't post the stories that I wanted, and that readers would find really interesting and worth reading. So I gave up.

After talking to Miss Katie (because I still read and kept in contact with my favorite bloggers), she offered up her blog as a platform to launch the creation of my new anonymous blog that is set to begin publication on January 1st. (Shhh, some of you may know my real identity. Let's keep it hush-hush.) I'm grateful that she believes in me that much to allow me to whore solicit myself on her blog in hopes that you guys will trek on over to my blog and check it out, maybe add it to your readers, and follow me on Twitter.

The Depressing Stuff: 2009 has been the darkest year of my existence. I've spent most of the year denying the fact that I've been in a depression. It hasn't been until the recent breakup of my boyfriend of 2 years that I realize it's time to better myself. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself. I'm tired of being stuck in this dead end job. I'm tired of not being happy with the way my life is progressing. It's time to quit sitting around in limbo and be more proactive. And I want to share my stories with you guys.

The Uplifting Stuff: Writing helps me cope, and without my blog, I feel like I am missing a part of myself. I promise to be real. I promise to share stories with you guys in hopes that you'll be able to relate, offer up advice, or maybe just realize I'm completely crazy but entertaining at the least. I promise to make my blog uplifting and not dwell on the negatives in my life. 2010 is about rebirth and renewal. 2010 is about starting over from scratch and being hell-bent to make this year the greatest one yet. 2010 is about reinventing myself and finding out what truly makes ME happy. It can only go uphill from here.

I'll be posting a few more times here on Katie's blog (so long as she doesn't retract my sign-in info and tell me to kick rocks) to update you guys on the progress and publication of my blog and talk a little more so you can decide if you like me or not. (That last part was a joke... I hope.) If you'd like to get a headstart and add it to your readers (or just take a peek) head over to My Way This Time. Also, follow me on Twitter (I promise to follow back): @MyWayThisTime.

I look forward to meeting (blog-ophorically speaking of course) and chatting with you at my new home.

Erin @ My Way This Time

Readers, Inventions, and Stories About Dad (not feat. Jesus)

I remember when I had all the time in the world to post, and I was all like "Hey! 2 Blogs in one day! Hooray!" I usually focused on making my words rhyme too. Long live Dr. Suess. I also got all dejected when my reader was over 200. What can I say, I like to keep it low. (That's what she said? No? Alright, I'll make up for that bad one.)

These days, my reader doesn't even acknowledge that I'm there. It's like marriage in the 20th year. Woman walks in from a long, hard day of work and husband is sitting on the couch with his bird hanging out of the peep hole of his sweatpants and doesn't even know that his wife walked in. These days she's just a deposit box for his bird anyway. Speaking of sweatpants with a bird hole, I think guys have it made. In the middle of the night, they don't even have to pull their pants down. I'm going to invent women's pajamas that have a huge hole on the crotch for peeing.

Anyway...

My reader definitely wants to break up with me. The name calling has begun. He's all "Hey numb-nuts, you don't pay attention to me!" and I'm all "Well, I'm busy. I'll open you as soon as I can." Then I do, and I kind of just stare at it. Like its this super mountain to climb, but I forgot my hiking boots, and whips and chains. So, instead of taking a whack at it, I just leave it alone. Then my reader starts being all "Yo! Don't even open me if you're not going to touch me!"

...THAT is what she said.

So now that I've broken a cardinal rule and explained that I haven't been posting and why, I'll leave you with a story I like to call:

"At least he's not giving vibrators to 8 year olds"
Starring: My Dad

Setting: The kitchen
Time: 8AM This morning
Scene: Dad is hovering over a box, trying to read directions (of which he can't read in general)

Me: What's that?
Dad: Some stuff I picked up.
Me: Okay. For what?
Dad: The chairs in the kitchen.
Me: There's nothing wrong with the chairs
Dad: Not the chairs, the other things, the stools at the bar.
Me: What's wrong with them?
Dad: They're hard and uncomfortable.
Me: Well they're stools. We could get some round pillows or something.
Dad: Well, I picked these up, but I don't think they work.

(Dad stands up and there's a puddle of liquid on the stool. His Horton Hears a Who pajama pants are soaked)

Me: WHAT THE EFF IS THAT?!

.....Wait for it...

Dad: STOOL SOFTENER.

....

Dad: But it doesn't work.

....

Happy Holiday's loves. And also? Thanks for the nominations and votes for the @20sb Blogger of the Month for January! To say I was surprised would be an understatement. You know how people are all like "Oh, being nominated was enough!" but you know it's just a ploy to get more votes?

....Being nominated was enough. No, for real. :)


Also? Congratus to this month's Blogger Ashley from Writing to Reach You.

Just for me

I just took one of the biggest breaths I've taken in a while. I always forget to breathe. That's more than likely where a lot of my anxiety comes from. that and my lack of sex. hi mom.

I've had one of 'those weeks' where I hardly got any sleep, I worked crazy hours, and my sanity was slowly going down the drain. By some miracle, it so happened that my audio session for Stratejoy was on Friday, so that really helped get rid of all of the pent up frustration and hostility from the week.


Oh, you don't know what Stratejoy is? It's a lifesaver, that's what it is. Stratejoy is a fabulous program created to help people navigate themselves through the Quarter-Life-Crisis. It's filled with journal prompts, audio sessions, inspirational quotes and other morsels of awesome. I've been having a lot of awesome breakthroughs on the plan, and I feel like I'm being reborn - only without all of the disgusting after-birth. And my mother's vag has nothing to do with it. It's always better if you keep mama's vag out of it, don't you agree?

One major thing that I realized over the last 2 weeks that I've been doing the Joy Plan is that I don't give enough time to myself. I don't take time out and do things that I want to do. I constantly do things that others want me to do that are supposed to make me feel good. Or, things that I think others would want me to do. I hardly ever do things that are for me - what I want. No matter how silly.

I got this twitter reply from Molly (CEO: Stratejoy) and it hit home. HARD.


Just like I put every single meeting on my calendar and honor it, I also need to put "Me time" on my calendar and honor it. I love doing things for others, but the very most important person is myself, and I've lost sight of that. I always claim to be having "me time". That ends up consisting of me doing work for a project, or talking a friend through a crisis, or going out and shopping for someone else. Though these are all things that I love doing, they aren't for me.

I'm not going to lie - with such a busy schedule, many projects that arise, and favors for others that I'm more than willing to commit to - it's hard to make 'me time'. It's even harder to figure out what 'me time' is.

So that's my own personal thing for this next week. I need to figure out what I like doing for me. It's kind of scary realizing that I've lost sight of myself to such a level where I don't know what I like anymore. I'm a creature of what others like, what others want me to like.

Here's to finding myself.

My question to you: What do YOU do for you? Think about it - is it absolutely something you do for you without judgment of what others think? Is it something that only you benefit from? Or is it beneficial to someone else? Remember - just you. JUST YOU.

Let It Go

Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

The Best Of 2009 Project continues. Today, we look at the Learning experience of this year. I'd list the finalists but there are oh, so many. It's not hard to pick a winner at all. The one lesson I learned that has truly changed me is:

"Let It Go"

Whether its love-gone-wrong, friendships gone sour, grudges, hard feelings, mistakes, regrets or anything you're holding onto that is causing you negativity, I've learned to let it go. I have always taken pride in my ability to hang on. I've hung on so hard for so long, trying to grasp to the idea that one day everything would work itself out. I've held onto people thinking that wanting them in my life would make them want to be there. I've held onto unlikely expectations that only caused me disappointment when they didn't work out.

It wasn't until I began to let things go that I felt a difference. The more I let go, the more relieved I became. It wasn't until I let go all of my grudges, unrequited love, unrealistic expectations and lost loves that I truly felt whole. Ironic, isn't it? In order to feel whole, I had to lose things, not gain them. I like to think of it as losing the things I don't have control over to make room for happier, greater and more fulfilling things.

Big City, Big Love

What better way to celebrate the last month of the year than to take a look back on 2009 and remember your very best moments. As much as I love saying "What a rough year this has been", and remembering all of the things I've overcome, I do want to focus on all of the positive things.

Check out this morsel of awesome. I'm pretty sure Gwen Bell is my new hero.

So, over the next month, I'll also be sharing some of my bests, and I suggest you do the same because all of the cool kids are doing it. (mostly me.)

Best Trip 2009

the finalists are:

Lima, OH
Cape May, NJ
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
New York City, NY
Baltimore, MD

While each and every trip had its own special meaning to me, and the people I was with on each were quite the company, I had to definitely go with a place I had never been before as the winner. It was a surprise trip, that I had no idea where I was going until I guessed, and then spent a night in one of the most awesome cities ever.

Winner: Washington D.C, September 26th -September 27th, 2009.
Post Recap: Here.

One of my good friends took me to DC to experience it. Though the weather was not exactly agreeing with us the first night, we still saw all of the great sites and went to the most amazing place for dinner where I had the most delicious bowl of jambalaya soup ever. I went to a club, almost went to a strip joint, saw a grown man in tighty whities, and tried to get us more hotel time by saying my friend was throwing up. I haven't been back to the city since, but now I go as far as searching for concerts playing in that area to have another excuse to go.

Google Failed Me

Every morning at 4AM, I wake up. Maybe you think I'm awesome for waking up that early and getting started on a lovely day nice and early. I think you're nuts and should realize that I can't control this internal 'wakie wakie' clock of mine.

This morning was just like any other - 4AM rolled around, I heard Roseanne laughing (because honestly, what better way to fall asleep than to Nickelodeon), and rolled over. I made my way to the kitchen and had me some cookies and milk. I was ready to head back to bed, when I saw a commercial for Hot Shreaded Wheat with Warm Milk. Call me deprived, but I've never had warm milk before. When I think warm milk, I think sour milk, and there is no worse smell than old, sour milk.

I was still pretty curious though. What does warm milk taste like? So I did the only normal, feasible thing - I Googled it.

Link #3 on that wonderful list was "What Does Breast Milk Taste Like? Well, I'll Tell You!".

I recommend reading that article and telling me if you're as freaked out as I am. The whole idea was that the writer's wife was lactating, and the baby wasn't taking the milk. The wife was in pain, so the guy offered to "relieve her" by breast feeding. He described in detail what the experience was like, what it tasted like, and the big finale? He and the newborn fell asleep in his wife's arms.

Yeah.

Maybe if he wouldn't have openly stated "I was a bit aroused by it!" I would have understood or maybe respected him more. Surely I was judging him right off the bat, because really, who's first thought when their wife is lactating is to breast feed? Maybe that's one of the natural instincts that come with having a baby? I don't know, I don't have any kids that I know of, so I really can't say.

I understand that she was in pain, and he'd do anything for her, but come on. If I was ever in pain due to lactation, I'd A) Milk myself like a cow or B) Go out to a 24 hour Walmart and get a breast pump. Never would I insist that my husband/baby daddy latch on. Or, if this DID happen, which it never world, but if it did, I'd never publish an article about it. Or if i did, I think I'd do it a bit more tasteful that he did. (No pun intended, maybe)

Your thoughts? Are my overwhelming feelings of not wanting to be touched getting the best of me? Or is this situation as ridiculous on as many levels as I suspect?

Fin.

At the beginning of this month, Nilsa left me a comment saying that she hoped that I'd post things of substance and not just "Hey. Can't post. Sorry!" I never do that to begin with, but she mentioned that too often she's seen the quality of posts go down as the quantity goes up with NaBloPoMo. I've definitely noticed that this month.

I'd like to think that I've kicked Nablopomo's ass, considering a lot of blogs that I read have posts that are only a few sentences, and they're "blogged just to say I blogged." Of course, I still read these blogs and give them credit for even taking part in National Blog Posting Month. I have found it to be a bit of a challenge posting everyday. I'm not sure if I loved it, or hated it. I hated it surely because I had to find time in a day to write something, and something of substance. I loved it because it forced me to take a look at everything as a Post Optionspossible inspiration for a post. Everything from my dog, to my bad mood to what new food I tried that day. Everything was up for consideration.

Will I do it again? Maybe. I'm more excited that I decided to do something, worked on it, and completed it. I hardly ever do this. I like starting anew way too much for my own good.

Congrats to all of my fellow NaBlo successors AND to the NaNos! I'm raving proud of you.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Yes, it's Sunday, but no I saw no blood. Yet. Lucky for me, I suppose.

I try and leave religion out of my posts, because it causes to much controversy, and I know for a fact that I have some Christan, Jewish, Catholic, and even an Atheist or two reading my blog. I am thankful for each and every one of you, so let me say that right up front. I'm not about to disclose my beliefs here, other than saying that I am certainly not an Atheist for my own reasons.


I am, however undecided on whether or not I believe in the supernatural. And by supernatural, I mean all of it. From Horoscopes and Fortune Telling to ghosts and telepathy, I have days where I think it's a bunch of rubbish (mostly days when my horoscope doesn't come true) and days when I think it could possibly be feasible. (mostly days when I watch Psychic Detectives on A & E).


I don't know what it is, or if it's all in my head. I feel like I've been being 'told something' lately. I know, I know, 'Crazy lady in the building!" Don't worry, I haven't gone out and bought my Miss Cleo garb and begun perfecting my fake-Jamaican accent. Yet. It's not happening all of the time, but I have become more aware of when it IS happening. Sometimes, its something as small as 'get up and run NOW, don't wait 'til later'. Or, like today, I felt like I should live in the moment. I always read inspirational stories, poems and blogs about living in the moment and I try to. Today though, it was like, I had to live in the moment. There was no other choice.

If you really think about it, living in the moment isn't such a bad message, no matter whether it's coming from 'the other side', or deep within my own psyche. I do start to wonder why I'm feeling this sudden urge to take advantage of every moment. Is there some ending coming for me?

If so, I'm going to go get Tattooed, get my nose pierced, eat lots of food, travel the world, kiss a stranger, buy a wii, sing karaoke, tell him, go on a cruise, tell everyone I love them often, laugh often, smile and everyone, and go to DisneyWorld.

Better late than never life list, anyone?

I Remember

Saturdays have traditionally been my night to party it up. Whether I'm at a charity function, house party, concert or just spending a night with close friends in the Gayborhood, one thing is for certain, it involved consuming large amounts of alcohol in short periods of time. Then, humpty dumpty dancing with random people, actually hugging my friends and showing affection, talking to random people about deep meaningful things and speaking without vowels with one eye open like pirate.

...Xs m, dy knw whrth bthrms?

I usually don't find out and have to pee my pants. Or, if it's one of those crazy nights where I changed clothes with someone, I pee their pants. That always makes for an awkward return of clothing.

Anyway,

Today I turned down two tempting invitations to go out on the town. I spent my day with a good friend of mine doing Christmas shopping. I added this, this and these to my list of things I want. Take notes. Then, I headed home to get some work done. I was chatting it up with one of my new local favorite blog-loves, and we decided to get together for some light petting beverages and heavy petting conversation. So, we met at the one and only place that you should meet someone for the first time, at Starbucks. Anywhere else, (i.e. in Wegman's) would be weird.

I even hugged her hello. And goodbye.

And I wasn't drunk.

True Story.

Now, I'm winding down, getting ready to crawl into bed and rise early for a run tomorrow morning. I could be out right now, hitting up drink specials, giving would-you-rather-scenarios to unsuspecting bartenders/random people, getting drunk and making memories that I have a 50% chance of remembering unless blackmail pictures surface. Oddly enough, that doesn't sound appealing to me. I much rather make memories that I can remember, especially when they're good ones.

...most of the time.

Setllub

...the Title is Bullets backwards. I is clever. :)

Friday? It's Friday? You're getting some bullets!

• Have you heard? I'm a proud Wii owner. I know I'm kind of late to the party, but for the longest time, I just couldn't justify spending 300+ dollars on a gaming system. Looking back, it would have been kind of worth it. I bought some Mario Kart, Super Mario Bros Wii, and get ready for it...Dancing with the Starts. Don't Judge me. I've spent most of the day perfecting my Mario Kart skills, and getting acquainted with Super Mario Bros. I'm equally in love with both of them.
  
  
• Thanksgiving with half awesome and half horrible. My dinner was a success, but my father spent the day in bed. I ended up eating alone, which was kind of a bummer, but it was a ton of fun making a dinner from scratch, and getting "frisky" with the bird.
  
  
• Now that I've bought a Wii, I will not be going out for a very long time. I'm going to be spending countless evenings in, in pajamas playing with my Wii(ner).
  
  
• the Couch to 5k program is going well. I decided to do Week 1 for a second week since I had the setback of a stomach virus. So, I'm still runinng a minute, walking a minute and a half and repeating that 8 times. Monday I'll be starting "Week 2" which will be Runnig a minute and a half and walking 2 minutes, doing it 6 times. It's getting easier and easier to run now, and it feels really great getting back into the habit.
  
  
• How 'bout them Cowboys?
  
  
• Remember the post about Adam Lambert? Even though he practiced some hardcore bondage on stage, I've actually found his "For Your Entertainment" song to be quite catchy. I did buy his new CD, and I haven't moved on past that one song. Maybe it's awesome, maybe it's not. I suppose I'll find out.
  
  
• Something that I don't want that I'm sure everyone else wants: An E-Reader. Call me crazy, but I actually prefer to have the physical books to read. It's not just the convenience, but it feels more personal. Kind of like getting a snail-mail letter over an e-mail. Both are nice, but there's something extra special about a mailed letter, especially since everything has gone digital. Hell, I even love the smell of books. So, if you're sitting around your house wondering 'What should I get Katie for Christmas:...please make sure it's not an E-reader.

How about you? Are you for or against the whole Digital Book Reader products?

The Time I Went To Third Base AKA Today

Today's incoherent blog ramblings are brought you you by: Tryptophan.

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving/Gobble/Hangover/Eat 'til you puke Day! Hope you all spent some quality time with the family and friends. Unless you hate your family and friends, in which case I hope you still spent time with then and were able to avoid committing homicide. If you did and you need an alibi, I might could provide that for you.

If the price is right.

I watch a lot of cooking shows. I find most chef's to be very annoying and pompous. Yet, I still put myself through it. I've done a lot of watching this week due to it being ThanksGIVING, and for it I was making my father and I a lovely dinner and I didn't want to mess it up. He's pretty critical and everytime I make something, he has a problem with it. I think it's just his generation that are a bunch of crotchety, miserable, judgemental kinda people. So, as you can imagine I was aiming to please.

I watching many a people cleaning out Turkeys. I know you have to get heart or gizzards or testicles or something out of it before cooking it. Sometimes they all come in a bag, I hear, but I wasn't sure about my Turkey that I got from Acme. I prepped myself last night for the personal time I'd be spending with the bird today. I imagined myself digging in between the turkey legs and digging for whatever it is that I'm supposed to be removed. I wasn't quite sure what the things were going to be. I just assumed I'd feel my way through it, and maybe the turkey would give me a little "To the left, to the right...right there. That's it" guidance. A girl can wish.

This morning I woke up, took my bird out (don't act like you don't want to laugh), and prepared to go to town on it. I spend a good 25 minutes digging around looking for the 'bag' or the 'heart' or whatever. I decided to Google it, because Google knows everything. I soon found out that I got a Turkey Breast, and they typically have everything removed.

So I didn't have to touch anything gooey. There was no surprise in the turkey when it was done cooking. He came out looking nice, golden brown and relaxed. It was probably the 20 minute hand job that I gave him.



Oh, remember that giveaway that I hosted a few days back? Well, we have a winner. Actually the "real" winner isn't winning because it was her. And she's involved with the cause, so I veto that. Let me first say that I appreciate all of the facts, tweets, blogs, etc. about HPV, Cervical Cancer and Run 2 Inspire. That being said, the winner is:

Rachael from Senorita Rachael!

Congrats, lady! E-mail me your physical address and I'll send off your Gift Card and goodies. OR we can just plan on doing diner sometime soon. Either way, be in touch, lucky girl!

Adam's Song

Did you all see Adam Lambert's performance on the AMA's? You can try Googling it, but Dick Clark productions removed most of the videos because of those copyright laws and schtuff.

Anyway,

I was rooting for Adam after my once true love, Danny Gokey was eiliminated from American Idol.

[Just in case you're wondering, I no longer like Danny Gokey because he made a comment that he was doing American Idol for the money. Little jerk. So I've moved on to more mature men. More attainable men. Like Ralph Fiennes.]

So, I was pulling for Adam, who is just as cute as a button and sang an awesome rendition of "Mad World" that is my current cell phone ringtone. Not that I get many calls because most people know I hate talking on the phone.

[You're getting lots of additional information from me today, aren't you?]

[I'll get through this eventually.]

[Maybe.]

So I didn't watch the AMA's but Twitter was a-Twitter with Adam's performance so I knew it must have been something great. Which it was... if you're a big fan of bondage, simulated oral sex, same sex makeout sessions, accidental stumbles, and King Bowser like costumes. All of which I am. Except for bondage.

[I was asked once if I was into Bondage, and I said "only when I'm hurt".... I got a half disturbed and half erotic look from the inquirer. Come to find out, I thought he said Bandage. 100% true story.]

So Adam put on quite a show and all the world is a buzz over his "interesting" display of his sexuality. By some freak event, I was able to find the video and I just checked and it's still up. For now. Though I definitely think that it was slightly outrageous, I don't think the reasons that people are claiming it to be outrageous for are legitimate. The one that gets me the most?

He's Gay.

Really? Is THAT why it was ridiculous? Remember when Britney and Madonna kissed way back when? THAT was okay, because neither one was an out of the closet homosexual. But since Adam Lambert is, it's not okay for him to kiss a guy on stage. I watch soap operas, and there are gay couples everywhere, and they're able to kiss. Same thing, right?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the whole "simulated oral sex" thing was okay. That was a bit distasteful for the primetime stage. Although, I have attended any concerts and the singers have encouraged people to smoke their pot at designated times, and that's illegal. Oral Sex isn't.

JUST SAYIN'.

Point of this post? Stop with the double standards, America! Let bi-gays be bi-gays, and let them do whatever their fabulous hearts please. The reason why Adam's perforance was offensive was because it was a bit TOO sexual. Not because of his sexual preference.

Off Soap Box.

Kthx.

On Being a Good Customer

I shop. A lot.

I don't always buy things, but I find myself browsing the aisles of Old Navy, Tar-jhay, and my personal favorite, Barnes and Noble. Seriously, that store is like a crack store to me. Well, if I were addicted to crack it would be like crack. So just replace crack with books, and what do you have?

...a book store.

Yeah, that sounded much better in concept than it did when it came out.

Alright, where was I? Oh yeah, shopping.

Not only am I a master (bator) browser, but I am also the best customer in the whole world. Seriously, if there was a best customer award, I'd get it. I know it's really hard to work in retail, especially now with A) the recession and B) the holidays. I know that the majority of customers are dirty and rotten and have no respect for the people who are giving them service. It's not totally unrealistic to believe that I may be the one and only smile, conversation and all-around pleasant experience that the retail workers might see in any given day. I recognize that and know that I have the power to make or further break their day.

In light of this realization, there are a few things that I make a special point to accomplish when I'm in a store.

1. Avoid saying "I'm just browsing" when someone asks if they can help me. - This is the most common response to "Is there anything I can help you with?" That, and "No." I know that these people hear that answer all day long. So, when I'm asked I'll do one of 2 things: I'll ask their opinion on something, even if I end up not taking it. or I'll say "Not right now, but where can I find you if I do need you?" Both of these answers make the worker feel wanted and appreciated. They feel their opinion and presence is valued.
   
   
2. Telling the person who checks me out who helped me - I used to only do this if I was asked 'did anyone help you?' I then just assumed to do it all of the time, even when I'm not asked. If I'm telling the check-out person who helped me and throwing in an extra compliment, I'm sure the message will get back to the person. How awesome does it feel to have someone give you a compliment? Especially when it comes from a third party. Not only did you hear it, but someone else did too. Hell, ego rub.
   
   
3. This goes in hand with #1, but if someone asks me a question at all, I reply to their question, and ask their name. From then on out, I address them as such. This also makes #2 even more effective if you took the time to get the person's name. It doesn't hurt to throw in a compliment: "Love that name!" or "Love that shirt, did you get it here?"
   
   
4. When checking out, I always say "Hey, how are you today?" while making eye contact. I follow it up with "You just start your shift, or are you almost going home?" Again, this shows that I care. It also makes sure the checker is staying focused on me as a customer.

I read a post the other day from a friend of mine and he recounted a day recently where he went to Best Buy and the service was horrible. I was insulted for him. The only thing I'd have done differently was A) Tell the person that I was offended by their behavior. B) Find a manager. Because honestly, if someone is doing something wrong, they probably won't stop until they're reprimanded. Respect is a two way street, and you have control over the way you treat people. You also have some control on how others treat you.

So, as the Holidays draw even closer, we're going to find ourselves in stressful situations, busy crowds and drowning in customer service woes. Make the best of it. Do your part in spreading holiday cheer.

OK? Oh-freakin'-kay!

Oh, and don't forget my wonderful giveaway. For realz. You can win some dollar dollar billz y'all.