The Resilient Rooster

You know I love my job. We deal with a difficult subject matter and there are a lot a changes that are, at times, difficult to handle. Today was particularly rough for me but I work with some amazing and random people. You can find us talking about anything from changing the world to sex toys. Today's topic was the Chinese Zodiac. We read everyone's general description of their sign and most of them were surprisingly accurate. Here's mine.

The Resilient Rooster

By Marie Diamond

Efficient and intelligent, Roosters love to show off their talents. They want to be the center of attention but at the same time are very generous to their friends and loved ones. They appear outwardly very strong-willed and energetic but are actually full of fear and worries on the inside. Committed to themselves, Roosters are hypercritical of everything and everyone, especially if they are not getting enough respect from the other animals on the farm. They can be inflexible, with beliefs and opinions that tend toward fanaticism.

Roosters just want to strut their stuff. They are fashion gurus and are unafraid to create their own unique style. People admire them for the colors they wear, their pleasing outfits and dashing ingenuity. Roosters want to be successful, and their enduring self-belief makes them sure -- cock-sure, in fact -- that they can handle everyone and everything. Eager to know all there is to know about any subject that interests them, Roosters often show impatience and a lack of humility -- they want only the best when it comes to material things. It might take Roosters a while to reach their goals, but it's likely they'll succeed, as Roosters are generally too proud to accept less than the best. They are perfectionists, which serves their ambitions but may be hard on those around them.

I think it's accurate, except for the fashion stuff. It was a little weird having it read out loud but isn't that my daily challenge? What do you think? Does it describe me? Check out your own here.

Random Websites

I've realized in my time off that I spend a lot of time online. I've found some pretty great and random websites. Here's what keeps me entertained besides facebook and twitter. What are yours?

PostSecret - I love this website. Maybe it's the counselor in me but freeing your secrets is kinda powerful.
This is Why You're Fat - Most of this stuff is disgusting but there are definitely a couple things I would eat.
Fuck My Life - The title says it all.
Texts From Last Night - I remember, a couple years back, whenever I went out I gave a friend my phone to hold. This website is for the people who don't.
People of Walmart - You know that time you threw on anything just to run to the store real quick. This is why you should never do that again.

What am I missing?

I saw this on fb today and figured someone out there could use a reminder. I know I could...

I don't miss him, I miss who I thought he was! - fb friend

Doing Too Much

I've recently realized that I do entirely too much of nothing. At any given moment, I am watching TV, browsing the web, and playing a game on my phone. My attention is divided between all of them. Right now, I'm blogging and half-watching Desperate Housewives. I will likely prepare for my interview while watching Brothers and Sisters. I have no reason to multitask. I'm not working nor does anything really come from these mindless tasks. I need to start doing one thing at a time, even if it's only watching TV. I think it will help me to be more present with whatever I am doing.

Multitasking is the art of distracting yourself from two things you’d rather not be doing by doing them simultaneously.

Hopefully, it will also push me to do something I actually want to do. What are your distractions keeping you from doing?

Why I Don't Watch the "News"

I often feel bad that I don't watch the news. Sometimes people will ask me if I've heard about some random event but I usually don't know what is going on outside of my world until it's on facebook or twitter. I know I should be ashamed of myself as an EBP but I'm not. Too much random stuff passes for news and when something makes the news it's on every show. Yesterday's "balloon boy" incident is a prime example of why news isn't exactly news.

During a study break, I saw comments about the story on fb and twitter. I finally turned my TV to CNN and MSNBC to see what was going on. While they were searching for the boy, they spoke to people about the family, including the "psychic" wife with whom they swapped. However, the screen read "BREAKING NEWS" even though there was nothing new to report. They were just filling time and airwaves keeping the country on pins and needles about the fate of this young man. A collective sigh of relief was breathed when the boy was found. I thought "ok they found him end of story." Not so much. The family has appeared on a number of shows in the last 24 hours and has been mentioned in every news broadcast since. Why can't they just go away? Why do we need to know the details of the family and what it was like for them to look for Falcon? Frankly, I don't care. I want them to go back to normal and I don't want to see them on TV. I don't know if it was a prank or publicity stunt but if the "news" didn't make people instant celebrities over something this random, it wouldn't even be an issue.

When I turn on the news I want to see actual news for everything else I'll read a blog.

News is what somebody somewhere wants to suppress; all the rest is advertising.
~ Lord Northcliffe

For most folks, no news is good news; for the press, good news is not news.
~ Gloria Borger

Babies, Babies, Babies...

Am I the only one whose facebook feed has been taken over by new moms and their babies? Don't get me wrong, I love babies. I love parents who take care of their children, are excited about their child's birth and growth, who seek suggestions from other caring parents, and whose babies are nothing like these or these. However, thanks to facebook, I can probably tell you the best stroller, car seat, cloth diaper and child care around. It just reminds me that I'm growing up, or at least the people around me are. Babies are way off my radar right now. I'm focused on getting a job, mostly so I can afford my shopping habit. Would it be shallow of me to ask who has the best deals on work clothes, which boots are hot this season, and where I can get the best alterations? ...cause that's definitely where my head is right now.

Babies are always more trouble than you thought - and more wonderful.
~Charles Osgood

P.S. Feel free to leave answers to the above questions in a comment.

What Happened to "Worse"?

I know I'm not the best at grammar. It's been years since I taught it and even longer since I learned but I distinctly remember this.

Positive    Comparative        Superlative
good        better             best
bad         worse              worst

However, I keep seeing worst used in place of worse on twitter, blogs, and fb statuses. Ex. "She By Sheree is worst than Closet Freak." "Derrick J. is worst than RuPaul." Does this make any sense to you? Generally, I excuse it as a simple typo but I've seen it repeatedly by professionals and PhDs. So, I have to ask, did I miss something? Did we collectively agree to omit worse from the English language? or could folks use a 3rd grade refresher?

Who Needs Enemies...

when you have friends like this.

My girl left me this voicemail while I was in the library working on job applications. I find it hilarious because it's totally something my mom would say to me and something I would definitely think. That's why she's my friend.

"Where are you? I know you're at home or doing something where you can talk on the phone. Maybe. Well, you have to be. You have no job. You have no reason not to pick up. So, call me back. Bye."

Can you guess who said it?

Laugh Out Loud Moment

On my way home this evening, I was listening to the Doug Banks Show on the radio. They were talking about Kanye having a tantrum over not being offered chicken at Common's benefit concert this past weekend. blah, Blah, BLAH!

Then, they joked about Doug getting jacked for chicken!

Apparently, Doug went through a Popeye's drive-thru with the windows down, put the chicken in the passenger seat and some kids reached in, grabbed the chicken and ran. Ok, so maybe that isn't that funny but I thought of how pissed, shocked, and genuinely hurt I would be if I got jacked for some chicken. And that is hilarious!

How would you react?

TV Has Taken Over My Life!

When thinking of today's post, I kept coming up with TV shows and I wanted to get it done before the season premiers of Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. I realized that my day at home revolves around what is on TV. I don't read any more. I rarely listen to music. I don't study for my exam and I can barely get job stuff done at home. Honestly, I've never really been that productive at home but I haven't watched this much TV in a while. I think it is because I have a television in my bedroom.

In my apartment, my bedroom was reserved for sleeping and reading. There was an occasional late night movie on the laptop or lazy morning internet browsing but I didn't watch TV, pay bills, do work, etc. in my bedroom. Now almost everything I do occurs in my bedroom - TV, bills, job searching, eating, etc. There seems to be no time for reading because I'm looking for random stuff on TV or reaching for my macbook. Sleep only comes when I'm dead tired. I've got to make some changes before my brain turns to mush.

I want to put down the remote but Wife Swap, Law & Order (all 3 of them), Bridezillas, RHOA, Project Runway, Police Women of Broward County, Amazing Wedding Cakes, and True Life keep calling my name.

Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your (bed) room by people you wouldn't have in your home. ~David Frost

Random Thoughts...

from today's trip to the gym.

1. Young Jeezy claims to "Put On" for his city, yet I have no idea what city he's from.
2. Creepy old dude in the dress shoes, staring at me without so much as a head nod or hello makes you that much creepier. Find something else to look at.
3. How many "I think I'm late" texts do you think Li'l Wayne received over the last twelve months? At least two.
4. Lady with the big pink foam roller in your bang and rest of your hair flowing freely, today will be a bad hair day.
5. Nelly, please rewind your life. You new music sucks but your old tracks will forever remind me of waking up to indigo ass prints on the walls and paint shavings on the floor.