On Home Ownership

Fixing Things.

We've been buying my father power tools for every father's day, birthday, and Hanukah since I can remember, none of which actually meant anything (to me) until now.  Being a homeowner with zero sense of how to fix, well, anything, I've developed a new found appreciation for my paternal figure's expertise.  An architect and contractor by trade, I'm beginning to tap into his powers-that-be to educate myself like this: it starts with a phone call (specifically, last weekend) followed by a weak description of whatever latest injury is happening in the new digs (along the lines of that metal thing with the things sticking out) and, voila!, problems are solved and wisdom is shared.  Now, when to book my dad's next flight out here... Enjoy!

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On Other People's Dreams

Half an Ear.

Not sure what it is exactly but the minute a friend, family member or colleague starts reciting the details of their overly-vivid dreams, our attention spans blunder. Yet, when we recount our own reunions with grandparents, ghosts and dragon-like-hard-to-explain-types-things, the center of the universe seems to zero in on our adventures from the night before.  Just last night, in fact, I had this reoccurring dream that I'll spare you the details from because, the reality is, you'll care even less than the one person I told at 7am this morning.  But, honestly, who can blame 'em?  Enjoy!

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On Facebook Quizzes

Who Cares? (We Kinda Do.)

I tried to find out What City I'm Meant to Live In but gave up after I clicked on the link (via fb) and was diverted to seemingly complicated questions about downloads and whatnot.  So I gave myself my own quiz, quickly eliminating Paris (however popular amongst all the facebook excitement) and Des Moines, Iowa because, quite frankly, I don't even know where Iowa is without my shower curtain map (do you?).  Then I thought maybe these quizzes weren't meant for people like me (who download viruses at the drop of a hat and click "yes" to any multicolored box that stands between my computer screen and future destiny) until I heard about the Game of Thrones Character Match Up and, well, I need to know if I'm soul mates with Tyrion Lannister or not (don't you?) but anything less than Daenerys Targaryen would devastate.  Downloads, here I come; bring on the tears! Enjoy.

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On Too Little Time

The day got the best of me and I had no time to post!

On Rom(antic) Com(edie)s

Unrealistic Expectations.

While I don't think it's possible to become obsessed with romantic comedies - aka Rom Coms - I sure have watched my fair share over the last two months.  I blame this habit on my newly discovered recording strategy.  On Saturday morning/afternoon/middleofthenight (when I can't sleep), I scroll through the week's worth of crappy television shows on the usual cheesy 'rom com-ish' channels (FX, Oxygen, and so forth) and I record anything that looks moderately good or totally corny.  The upside is that the majority of these films (often starring JLo or Sandra Bullock) don't interfere with my usual commitments often airing on a consistent 3pm or 3am schedule.  And so I record, fall back asleep, and eventually peruse my list during a 2-hour free block, only to pleasant discover that, actually, JLo isn't (too) bad an actress and Ben Affleck was way cuter in his twenties.  Enjoy!


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On Social Appropriateness

"No offense but..."

You can feel the insult coming a mile away, clasped between a guilty nicety and a predictable warning to brace yourself.  So you grin and brace as flashes of equally hurtful comebacks pass before your teary eyes while your brain and heart struggle for an appropriate response.  Don't apologize, you tell yourself, wondering what the next best (better?) thing should be, reminding yourself that everyone has baggage and maybe this isn't about you at all.  Enjoy! 

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On Gravity

Constant Anxiety.

Last night, I watched Gravity.  I didn't know anything about it except that facebook posts were moderately favorable and, according to Bullock on an NPR interview I briefly overheard a few months ago, she spent a lot of the filming "in a box."  When I initially discovered it was about space, I thought it would be boring (Sandy in a box in space for two hours doing what exactly?)  But the minute it began, I was hooked, and then stressed, and then anxious, and then holding my breath, and then tired from holding my breath but unable to stop.  And all of a sudden two hours went by and, aside from vowing that I'll never be an astronaut in this lifetime, I think I rate the film an A-ish, if only for 120 minutes of successful, nonstop discomfort.  Enjoy!

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