FaceBook

I discovered Facebook about a month ago - man what a mistake. This little gem must be responsible for a nosedive in productivity for companies across the world (case in point I'm at work right now!!). You can find people that you haven't spoken to in years and Bam! there they are, with all their info right there for you to pry into. There's photo albums, thoughts, postings, and, of course the best part - all their "friends" who you might know and can invite to to be "your friend" too and on and on and all of a sudden you've got this re-incarnated world of people you knew throughout your life and you're all together again and...it's really cool but really weird too. You start getting invites from people you don't remember knowing at all, and then you start becoming obsessed with finding everyone and anyone you ever knew (not me of course - I'm way too cool for that). There's suddenly no point communicating with real people at all- all your "friends" are right there - you get updates when someone's written on your wall, updated their photo album, altered their preferences, became friends with someone else - and they get the same when you update your site (how can I change my musical preferences without everyone knowing and thinking I must be doing it to look hipper when it's true!!!). I need to take a little break from this craziness.... right after I search for a long lost friend who still owes me money!!

Easter O.D.

This Easter wasn't the same with Euge in the Philippines - it is SO far away and I haven't heard from him in like 3 days (I envision him riding one of those crazy-looking Jeepnie bus-thingies through villages with lots of fumes and noise and general overcrowded merriment). In an effort to make Easter OK for the kids I bought them presents, chocolate, candy, an ice-cream cake and the obligatory Easter clothes for church. I had our friends Adam and Jill over for brunch (see picture), who we all love and are so grateful to have. See in Kansas, most people have their immediate and extended families here - there aren't a lot of translplants like us here (go figure) so the family-as-friends clan that you find in bigger cities doesn't really apply here. Adam and Jill don't have immediate family here either AND they are very cool. They also brought over their friend Langston who I immediately liked because he offered to walk the dogs - gotta love someone who's willing to work for food!! We had a great meal and lots of mimosa's and chocolate and by the time everyone left the kids and I passed out (ahem...I mean "napped") for a good 2 hours...gotta love the true meaning of Easter: Eat/Drink,Pray,and Love.

The Kids

I thought it's about time I pay homage to my kiddos, Joshua and Genevieve. My husband's in the Philippines for 2 weeks and whenever he travels I find myself growing very close with my kids. We endure more frustration and chaos together due to me being more rushed and disorganized than usual, but we also cuddle more and I usually let them away with more than normal (SpongeBob during the week, 2 desserts after dinner, guilt toys). I love them more than I could have ever imagined loving anything (sorry dogs), and all of us have become a tight little unit out here alone in the middle of the country. I constantly worry about how they're doing and will draw blood on anyone that harms them (that includes the little 2-year old that shoved Genevieve off the jungle gym a couple of weeks ago - I swear Euge had to hold me back). Euge is also a great dad and his presence is really missed when he's away. In thinking of what direction my life will take in the future, they are always at the forefront and it's impossible to seperate the two. Here's to kids and all that they teach us:
- There are "Big Deals" and "Little Deals" - decide which one is which and act accordingly.
- Having Superpowers is an attainable goal and career choice.
- Elmo is God
- Taking baths and pooping detract from playtime and should be avoided at all cost
- Milk is to be spilled at least once a day
- Learn what compliments work and use them in times of hostility - "mommy I know I shouldn't have emptied out the pepper grinder all over the kitchen table but you're hair is so pretty and I love your flowers."
- If you can make me laugh, you're the best.

Eye Candy

We have an electrician working in the boardroom that looks like Leonardo DiCaprio. So far I've found the following reasons to wander in:
- getting paper coffee cups
- getting styrofoam coffee cups (it's a seperate trip of course)
- emptying out boxes and re-filling new ones (same paper, just swapping boxes).
- setting up for a board meeting (the only legit reason)
I've tried to think of ways to get a picture of him without it being suspicious but how could it NOT be? I'm open to suggestions.

Tanning

I think the Us magazine I read over the weekend went to my head, but seeing all those celebs with their sun-kissed cheeks and healthy-looking skin got to me. See, I'm going to Las Vegas in 6 weeks with my sister (who is my favorite chick in the world and the funnest person I could imagine going to Vegas with) and I need some ammo if I'm going to be lounging aroung the pool in a 2-piece. You know the old adage "if you can't hide it, tan it." So I head over to the tanning salon around the corner during my lunch break. Now, I haven't been in a tanning bed since I was 11 and my mom owned one in her shop - we went to Florida during Spring Break and my mom believed that a couple a sessions before we left would develop "a good base" and help prevent major burns (I still burnt). And I'm a natural fair skinned red-head. I admit I'm envious of my husband and kids's skin (Eugene's Philippino - Canadian) - why should they always get to look like they've just been in the south pacific surfing when I look like I've been locked in the basement for 9 months straight? So...I walk into the tanning salon and am greeted by a super-tanned brunette. she proceeds to show me around and describe the various tanning beds - the high-tech ones all look like neon-glowing alien pods. I nod along in ignorance and then look at the tanning "menu" - Super-tan girl really recommends the "Beach baby" package - for $60 a month you get unlimited tanning - all you do is sign an easy 12-month contract with automatic bankdraft!! I smile sweetly and tell her that I want to have a little "color" when I get to Vegas, not look like I've been dipped in a Turkey Deep Fryer. So, I'll try a free session on Friday and let you know how it goes one question though- Do you wear underwear? I don't want to term "firecrotch" to be literal. ouch...

The Psycho Friend

I was talking to my sister on the phone last night and she was telling me about her psycho friend problem. The friendship started out innocently enough (they always do), but over the past few months, has grown increasingly intense and creepy. This chick calls her 3-4 times a day, follows-up with emails and voice messages, guilts my sister into hanging out with her on her Sundays - her only day off - but doesn't want anyone else hanging out with them - Jealousy, manipulative flattery ("you're such an inspiration"), agression, gifts to induce guilt - God, cue the "screech, screech,screech" sounds and stabbing arm motion. I know, you're thinking "the poor thing, she's just lonely." Trust me my friend, this is what she wants you to believe, but in reality she's a ticking time bomb of craziness.

I think we can all attest to having at least one psycho friend (PF) throughout our lives. I tend to attract more than my fair share - it may be my ability to listen well (psycho's thrive on devoted attention), or that I'm pretty outgoing and open-minded - or I could just be a plain sucker. I had one PF that would park her car outside my house if she saw my car in the driveway and then proceed to call on her cell to see if she could "pop-in". Now, I've popped into friends' houses unnanounced before, but this was like EVERY second day. She'd usually show up in hytserics over yet another drama-induced argument her and her partner got into (always lame). I'd have at least 2-3 calls a day, gifts left for me, and then she started showing up at places I would frequent - the neighborhood park, walking the dogs, - way more than "coincidence." All the psycho hallmarks reared their ugly head: (see list below). Needless to say I gave her the big "Coup de Grace" via email (my usual un-confrontational style) and then proceeded to peek out the window behind the curtains for a month afterwards (I had nightmares of her standing outside my house crying in the rain with a boombox like John Cusak in "Say Anything"). We always wonder what the consequences to ending such a creepy relationship will be. To her credit, my former PF never called or tried to reconcile. I did learn a good lesson though - look for PF signs - they include:

1. No mention of any other friends.
2. Strained relationship with spouse or extended family.
3. Repeated calls and email with requests to "hang out" (any more than 1 a day is weird to me - sorry Oprah and Gail).
4. Repeatedly leaving things at your house and using them as an excuse to "pop by."
5. Gifts and flattery for no reason that makes you feel weird.
6. Drama - there's always drama.
7. One-sided - conversations usually focus on them.
8. Intense - PF are usually needy, intense people that control conversations, dates, etc.
9. Jealousy - PF usually want you to be one-on-one - other friends and spouses are not so welcome.

You're PF may exhibit one or more of these traits at various levels - the main thing to remember is - if it feels "weird" get out - you owe this person nothing and trust me - it will NOT get any better it in the long run. Run forest Run!!!

Note: I currently have no PF's in my life - my friends are all healthy and normal and awesome.

Stuck in a Rut....

I came to the realization last week that I am unfullfilled by my job in general. I know, like I'm the only one right?? I have been giving myself plenty of reasons why I should feel guilty about even thinking like this: I have a great office (with a door!), I work in a cool area (yes,we have 1 or 2), I make decent money, the people I work with are great, I get all the stat holidays off (President's Day!!), etc etc. The problem remains the actual WORK - it's administrative stuff and about as exciting as watching c-span for 8 hours straight -EVERY DAY. The TV stuff I do get to do is mundane - promo pieces and more admin work that conflict with my journalistic training. I realized last night that for the past 5 years, I have been setting up a career path to accomodate others: weekends and nights off to be with the family, holidays off so I'd be home with the kids, 9-5 with no overtime to be home for dinner, and a job that I can "leave" at work (I have warned and berated about the evil dangers of "taking work home with you"). To be truthful, these are all noble objectives, and when you have 2 kids under 5 with no extended family in sight, it's also a necessity. However, it also means you're going to have a pretty mundane job. Ask anyone and you know that I have a pretty strong personality. I need creativity and passion, I need to make a difference in the lives of others, I need to get excited about things. I have made excuses for not getting back into journalism for long enough - I need to get a job that actually suits ME, while also maintaining some sort of family balance - It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out....