Limit Reached

Deal breakers, we all have them.

2012-02-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, I complain about dating. It's a huge source of frustration. One minute you think things are going well and the next...you run for the hills or he runs for the hills, so I vent about it here on my blog. Of course, it's not all bad, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it. There's the hope of something fun. I have met quite a few interesting men. None of them have worked out. Mostly because they decided to pursue love elsewhere, but sometimes, albeit rarely, I decide to change my course.

What makes me decide that someone is not dating material? Here are a few of mine in no particular order, of course.

Drug use. While I might be a proponent of legalizing marijuana, that does not mean I partake. It's illegal right now and even if you do have a "prescription" for it, you're not fooling me. It's one thing if you indulge at a random event, it's another if it's a regular part of your life.

Violence. I have been lucky. I have not personally experienced this situation and it seems silly that I should even have to list it. It's obvious right? But common sense does not always prevail in matters of the heart, so it goes on the list.

Not single. How do I define this? Are you legally married? I don't care if you are living separate lives and have been for "quite a while". Unless there is a piece of paper at the county recorders office that says you are divorced or there isn't one that says you are married, I am not interested. If you are living with a woman, who if she found out we were on date would get really angry, I am not interested.

Awful kisser. Now, there are bad kissers and there are awful kissers. Bad kissers are usually just nervous or need some practice. Awful kissers cannot be overcome. When they kiss you, "What the hell is that?!?" rings through your consciousness and the feeling of bliss that normally accompanies a kiss is replaced by a feeling of confusion and embarrassment. These people are rare. I often wonder how they go through life being so horrible at this basic sex move. It's not easy to tell someone (you might not know that well) that what they are doing to your face is really fucking weird.

Prison record. Honestly, I get a little skittish when I hear a guy has a DUI. Sure, it's fairly common and not a deal breaker for most people. And if it was a one time indiscretion that happened years and years ago, I will probably not care about it. But a guy who has actually been to prison? No way. That scares the hell out of me.

Tattoos & piercings. I'm not 18 anymore. It's fine if a guy has a random tattoo that you can't really see unless his shirt is off or there's a story behind the one on his arm. But anymore than that and I don't think we are living in the same grown up world. And piercings? Gross. Pierced ears are fine, but anything else? I don't want to know and I don't want to see it.

Kids. Now, I will date a man who already has kids. But if he wants me to produce children? Forget it. A divorced dad is usually not the primary care giver to his children, anyway. Personally, I think this is bunk. There is no reason he should be let off so easily. My opinion is that women are forced by society and guilted into the role whether or not they are fit. So, until society changes, dating a divorced/single man with kids is almost like dating a guy without kids. But, I won't date a guy who desperately wants to have children of his own. I can't stand babies. Sure, they are cute and cuddly, but the thought of having to raise one scares me. I don't want to put that on a guy who hasn't yet come to that realization. Let him live in his fantasy world. I'm not going to squash it.

Online Dating Chronicles: Scammer Avoidance

2012-02-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

Thinking about curing your lack of Valentine and joining an online dating site? The Sacramento Bee recently did a story that had some tips to help you avoid a scammer.

Mostly, it's just common sense, but a little refresher never hurt anyone. My rule of thumb is "Don't send anyone money you haven't met in real life." Actually, I try to adhere to the "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" school of thought.

Dating is tricky, so you need to be smart about it. I know that's not easy in matters of the heart. We're all scared and lonely on some level. Unfortunately, there are some people out there who take advantage of that fact.

One thing to note about the article, at the bottom it has some resources for people who might have been duped by a scammer.

The cure for a brat?

2012-02-11T22:48:00.000-08:00

I can't be the only one who enjoys the dad who posted a YouTube video of him shooting up his daughter's laptop? Seriously, parents... Why don't you threaten to do this to your children? Not shoot them, but post their punishment online? Embarrassment can be a great learning tool.

You know I come from the Red Foreman school of thought. Some kids just need a foot up their ass.

In fact, I think posting the stupid shit your kid does along with the subsequent punishment would be a reason for me to check Facebook on a regular basis. Instead of the boring "My kids are wonderful!" crap we read every day we can be entertained with things like "Tyler threw a fit again when I told him to do the dishes and then homework. If I had a dunce cap, he'd be wearing that around the house. As it is, he's pretty much living the 1985 lifestyle. No video games, no internet access, no cell phone. Maybe I should make him listen to some Phil Collins just to reinforce my point."

It's almost a reason to have kids. I'd like to threaten someone, "You pissed me off so much, I'm posting this on the Internet! You better hope the local news doesn't pick it up as the lead story!"

Of course, this won't work with the toddlers because only that scary E-Trade Baby knows how to surf the web. But if I was a teenager, I'd be sweating it right about now.

Oh, Siri!

2012-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

Siri is pretty much totally useless. I tried to use it the other day when I couldn't remember the address of a local business. Apparently the noise of my car as well as the panic in my voice render me incomprehensible to computers.

Granted, I already hate voice recognition software, so I am not really partial to giving Siri a chance to function properly. Then again, maybe Siri would be good to use to let off some steam. I mean yelling obscenities at an inanimate object has to be better than road rage, right?

The only use I've found for it is to reply to a text message when I'm driving (hands free!) and to look for a place. The other things they say that the software can do seem stupid. Just use your hands, if they aren't otherwise occupied.

What I really need Siri to do is remind people not to drunk text someone at 2:00 am or send a text right after I just hung up the phone with someone. These would be useful functions for the software in everyone's phone.

Odds are if I need to set an alarm or look something up on the internet, I will be able to use my hands to do it and with less frustration.

Valentine's Day is for losers?

2012-02-08T21:10:00.000-08:00

This is my obligatory "I'm trying to be evolved about being single on Valentine's Day" post. But, who am I kidding? I've ALWAYS been single on Valentine's Day. It's not that I'm alone on Valentine's Day that pisses me off. Well, it does a little bit.

What really pisses me off is that I've just never had a Valentine. I just want to try it out once. I'm sure it's awful. Everyone seems to think so that I talk to about it, but I've never had the "what should I get him" pressure. I've never worried about how to be nice when accepting a crappy gift.

At this point, a crappy gift would be nice. At least I'd have something new to write about instead of the usual woe is me stuff.

Seriously, does anyone who isn't a 10 year old little girl actually enjoy Valentine's Day? The last time I really enjoyed it was when the whole class had to hand out mandatory Valentines. My desk was covered with Smurf, Batman, and Barbie Valentines. Of course, so was everyone else's.

This isn't really good preparation for the real world. It's rife with disappointment.

In the subsequent years, I watched girl after girl get those carnations sold by the band or the Key Club as a fund raiser and delivered during 4th period.

Every year, I hoped I would get surprised. Every year, I was disappointed.

Then again, last year was nothing but disappointment. Remember when I was on Sacramento Magazine's Single in Sacramento web page? Yep. No dates from that one, but last year was a pretty barren year. Maybe this one will be better? One can only hope.

Finally, some common sense in the courts

2012-02-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

Well, the California Supreme Court just struck down my excuse for not being married. I was going to start telling people that I am single for political reasons. Until there is marriage equality for gays and lesbians, I choose to be an unmarried straight person as an act of solidarity.

No one would have bought that anyway. I've been too single for too long, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here.

I am glad that a stupid law like Proposition 8 was overturned. Don't give me that "the people voted for it, so it should be law" crap. You know what kinds of awful used to be law? Slavery. It was legal in this country. It was also legal to prevent women from voting. Should we go back to that too? How about telling people that they couldn't marry someone outside of their race? That was a law in this state, no less.

Here's the thing, it's a civil rights issue. In this country, you are allowed to think gay people are icky and I'm allowed to think you are stupid. But I'm not allowed to prevent stupid people from marrying, so you can't prevent gay people from marrying.

Heck, I think polygamy is stupid and gross, but if a bunch of consenting adults want to create their family unit as such, I'm not going to tell them it's illegal. If you can support your family and you aren't being violent or abusive, why should I be the one to tell you that you can't live that way? It's none of my business. And I'm allowed to think it's gross and stupid.

We as a society have to grow the hell up. Just because someone lives differently from you, doesn't make them bad people. Nor should you deny them civil rights, like the ability to visit a sick loved one in a hospital, or the ability to enter into a contract that states two people are now a family and deserve the tax and legal rights accorded to such an agreement. Because when it comes down to it, marriage really is just a legal agreement in the eyes of the law.

Random thoughts on airline travel

2012-02-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing: Southwest gets it while others just don't.

The "it" is the bag check fee. Paying an extra fee to check your bags is ludicrous. Just pad it into the damn airfare.

If you call the fee out, no one is going to check a bag. It makes boarding and unloading a plane too damn long. I started writing half this blog post while waiting for my plane to unload this afternoon.

On a Southwest flight, I have a personal bag under the seat in front of me and that's it. I just have to slide out and stand up to walk off the plane. I don't have to frantically try to remember where my carry on is stowed and then try not to knock someone in the noggin while trying to get the damn thing down. Of course, I have to freak out about checking in so that I get an A boarding pass instead of the dreaded B or C, but that's much easier to handle than watching 70 people struggle to not annoy another 70 people.

Things like purple mood lighting & in-seat entertainment are just a way to rationalize that stupid baggage fee. "See how great this airline is? You are in luxury now!" While these are nice, and I'm sure my checked bag would appreciate their use, they are unnecessary. My phone can keep me company or even an old fashioned book. Most people carry something with them to pass the time. Heck, I saw one guy reading a newspaper on board. What's that all about?

Granted, I do enjoy the in-seat charging and being able to see where the plane is on a google map in front of me is cool. Also, a really long flight, like to Europe or Australia might be nice to have a large option of entertainment available, but even across the the U.S., an on demand movie is not worth the $8.00.

Because let's be honest, the non-stop flight across the U.S. is pretty much non-existent these days.

Online Dating Chronicles: Actual Messages

2012-02-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if people are stupid or just crazy. While you might think I'm making up half of the things I complain about that I come across in the online dating world, I'm just not that creative.

Yes, I know I'm picky, but these are legitimate grievances I am airing on my blog. I've already given you some proof and OK Cupid keeps giving me more to share with you.

Below is a few of the actual messages I've received since signing up last week.

Wow! your eyes are very beautiful!!! Hows your day ? Why so amazing and not taken???

U look great, I meet u n Vegas!!! What happens n Vegas stays n Vegas lol!!!

hi; I have seen your profile, you have a gorgeous smile and beautiful long hair; very nice!

Hello, you are a sexy woman and you have a fantastic smile and sexy curves! kisses for you

What the hell? I already shared the message from the so called adult film star. Ew, a thousand times, ew!

Not to mention the myriad of "Hi" or "How you doin" messages. Seriously, I've swooned more over a simple tweet and the guys on dating sites are not limited to 140 characters.

I'm not asking for something eloquent. I want a quasi-intelligent message. The way to my heart is through my brain.

Why should I go to Hawaii when there's Las Vegas?

2012-01-31T21:18:00.000-08:00

People are always trying to convince me that Hawaii is a great vacation destination. But why?

My favorite vacation destination is Las Vegas. Personally, I can't imagine why anyone would go to Hawaii. Sit on the beach and read a book? A) I can do that here in California. B) I hate the outdoors.

You know why Las Vegas is better? Well, first of all, you're not stuck on an island. You can flee if some sort of natural disaster occurs.

Also, it's Vegas, baby, Vegas.

While Las Vegas has gotten friendlier to families, it isn't overrun with them. Plus, there aren't many couples on their godforsaken honeymoons. Sure there are some people who getting married, but they aren't the usual dog & pony show types. In fact, I saw two Groupons for Las Vegas weddings today. That's a little out of control even for someone as cheap as me, but still...kind of awesome on some level.

Odds are you won't be accosted by a screaming toddler at a bar or even a restaurant in Las Vegas. I'm not sure I would play those odds in Hawaii.

Speaking of...not that I'm too into betting, but you can't play blackjack, poker or the ponies in Hawaii.

Did I mention that it's Vegas?

There's so much to do...shows, shopping, gambling and other adult things if that floats your boat.

Do you think the Hangover would have been as cool in Hawaii? No. Sure, some people might wake up with a chicken and a rouge baby in their hotel rooms in Hawaii, but I'm pretty certain Mike Tyson's tiger wouldn't be there.

Dealin' in multiplication

2012-01-30T20:31:00.001-08:00

Some people say coincidences are messages from the universe, telling you what to do or that you are on the right path. I can't remember where I heard or read that, but either way, I'm pretty sure I don't speak the universe's language. And there's no Rosetta Stone course to help me figure out how to understand it.

Coincidences happen to me so often that I don't even notice them much anymore. Not only that, but sometimes random information just plops into my awareness. It's like Jell-O. What am I supposed to do with it? I know what I could do with it, but what should I do with it?

Just because I find out that someone asked why I missed an event doesn't mean he wants to go out with me and I should try to find a way to contact him. Of course, that's how I interpret it.

Just because I heard Electric Avenue by Eddie Grant twice in one day (morning then evening) doesn't mean that the universe is trying to get me to take it higher.

Actually, I have no idea how to interpret that little nugget other than it inspired me to write this blog post.

People tend to see what they want to see. I know I'm guilty of doing that all the time. I'd like to be confident in the knowledge that what I interpret is correct and how thing really are around me, but since it's all about perspective and point of view, it's nebulous. I'm right and wrong all at the same time.

Online Dating Chronicles: The one were I lose my mind again

2012-01-29T15:04:00.000-08:00

In a moment of poor judgement, I signed up for OK Cupid again. Wow. How is it that some people have actual relationships with folks they met through this site?

This site makes Match.com look like it's run by the Amish. Then again, maybe the Amish are all freaks too.

All I know is that if you want to know how freakish the men in Sacramento are, look at the questions they answered on their OK Cupid profiles. Seriously, I don't even need to see the answers. Just the fact that they bothered to answer these questions scares me away.

I don't even want to write the words for fear they will muck up my SEO, so here are some screen shots:

Honestly, I think it say alot about a person who bothers to answer such questions. It's on the Internet people. It's your permanent record!

On another note I got the following message:

ur fn amazing
30 yr old former adult film star here and (BLANK) is the name
just got to sacramento on biz staying on (BLANK ADDRESS)!divorced daddy of one son so yes im wild but not "2" wild lol... maybe u wanna chat u look fun as hell
lol
xoxo
(BLANK)...sorry no pics on here but do have on facebook lo

I wish I could make that up. Someone else did, I'm pretty sure. And also? Grody.

Right now, I prefer the guys on Match. They don't make me fear for my safety. The guys on OKC are pretty much just fodder for my blog. How creepy can men be? I'm sure I'll be getting a few message to answer that question.

It's the stomach flu not influenza

2012-01-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

There is a pretty nasty stomach flu bug going around Sacramento. It's really the Norwalk virus or Norovirus.

Of course, some geniuses hear the word "flu" and instantly think if you'd have gotten a flu shot, you wouldn't have gotten sick.

Um no, think again there Jonas Salk. There are in fact two different things with the word flu attached to the symptoms. One seems like a really bad cold that knocks you out fast. The other makes you lose 5 pounds in 24 hours because you are barfing up everything you've eaten or attempt to eat.

Of course, I'm of a mind that those supposed flu shots don't work for influenza anyway, but that's neither here nor there. I mean it's a virus right? I thought viruses mutated so fast that a vaccine was pointless.

Random Thoughts on the Home & Landscape Show

2012-01-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

Sheriff Bob!

Because I can't get enough home improvement by watching HGTV, I went with my parents to the Home & Landscape show at Cal Expo.

Basically, every type of vendor your could possibly need to fix something in your house or yard was there. Air conditioning, roofers, flooring, blinds, cabinetry, and even bankers were all present and accounted for at this shindig.

I've heard tell that it's a good place to research various contractors. You can talk to them, ask them questions and everyone is in one place.

Am I the only one who is over granite? Granted, I never really liked it in the first place. It soaks up liquids faster than a sponge. It's pretty, but it's so 2000. Same thing with stainless steel. It's all starting to look dated to me. I've always liked classic looking timeless appliances and fixtures. Give me a look that will be cool in 15 years and not what you think of when you see a house that was decorated in 1995.

Storage for your island

What really caught my eye, was the fact that some of the food stations were open. The scent of barbecued meat wafting from this one truck/trailer almost lured me in. The weird country music turned me off though. People were chowing down on corn dogs left and right. Which would go really well with the slushie machine I saw for sale. Maybe it wasn't a slushie machine. It was some kind of giant Snoopy Sno-cone maker without the Snoopy.

I even saw one guy walking around with a beer. Genius! It's like being at the State Fair without the rides, crowds and insane heat. You still have two days left if you want to check it out.

Nocturnal Habits

2012-01-26T21:45:00.001-08:00

My optometrist scoffed at me when I told him I didn't have any kids. "You should be able to get plenty of sleep then..."

Um...what?

Just because I haven't procreated doesn't mean I'm sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I had time to think about how to twiddle thumbs or why one would even want to twiddle their thumbs.

I work like 10 hours a day. It takes me 30 minutes to get home. I have chores to do. Just because I'm single and childless doesn't mean I don't have to clean the house, do laundry, get my car fixed, go grocery shopping, or have a social life. On top of all that, I write and am addicted to Twitter.

OK, I should do something about the Twitter thing, but even so...I don't appreciate the fact that I'm thought of as having a life of leisure just because I don't fit into a mold from 1955.

I wish I had a life of leisure...well, maybe not. I'd probably get bored after about two days.

I do need to get more sleep, but I want to write. I want to interact with people. I want to watch some TV, dammit.

But, I need to sleep. I finally got 7 hours of sleep last night and it's amazing how much lower my anxiety and stress level got because of it. One damn hour makes a huge difference. Who knew?

Grubwithus? Why not?

2012-01-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

You know how they say you should do something that scares you every day? Well, in an effort to break out of my comfort zone and talk to random strangers, I signed up for a Grubwithus meal.

What is Grubwithus? As far as I can tell, it's a social media site that allows people to have fixed price meals at restaurants. You have to get a minimum number of people to go before the restaurant & menu is revealed. Members of the site set up the meals. You pick the date and time, invite people and then Grubwithus sets the restaurant.

OK, I knew a few of the people who signed up for the meal, but the purpose behind it was to meet new and interesting people. It's kind of a fun idea. I always want to meet people in real life, but I don't want to have to set up an entire event. Plus, the pricing of the meals seems fairly reasonable. Also, the sooner you commit to a meal, the cheaper your price.

There is still room and time to sign up for next week's meal at the Porch. I'm kind of excited because I've heard good things about that restaurant and have been wanting to try it.

Don't be afraid! Do something nice for yourself. Was that too sales-y? Sorry. I've been working too much lately. I've got pitchman on the brain. That just might be a real psychological state...HerbTarlek-itis

Online Dating Chronicles: Frustration 2 Electric Bugaloo

2012-01-24T21:45:00.000-08:00

Men of the greater Sacramento area: you are on notice. If you should receive a wink from me, it's because I'm putting as much effort into letting you know I'm interested as you did in writing that cliche ridden profile.

Since I cannot find anything even remotely interesting to distinguish you from the rest of the men on the dating site, I sent you a wink to entice you to talk to me. See, I took the time to try to let my personality shine through in my profile. I wrote things to help you strike up a conversation with you. I didn't list a bunch of adjectives that my friends would use to describe me. Of course, your friends would use nice words to describe you. That, however, doesn't tell me about you. That tells me that you think your friends think you are nice.

And that's nice...but...boring.

You have 30 seconds to reel in a great date and you go with "I'm funny. I'm laid back. I'm easy going. I'm goal oriented."

Snooooooze.

Who are you really? Are you a left handed golfer but eat tomato soup with your right hand? Are you fascinated by hurricanes? Do you know the difference between affect and effect?

Put it out there. How are you quirky? Do you still play with Legos? Then again, maybe none of you really know yourself. You need a backpacking trip through Europe to find your true identity.

The eye of the beholder

2012-01-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

The good news is that I'm not going blind.

The bad news is that apparently I've been having migraines for the past two weeks. The thing is that I haven't noticed any major headaches. I've just had this weirdness happening in my vision.

Glares have been my trigger. I'll see a bright light reflecting off some surface and suddenly this spot appears in my vision. Except, it doesn't go away when I close my eyes.

When I told my optometrist this, he said, "Well then it's not your eyes..."

"So it's my brain?" Panic! What?! Not my brain! I have nothing else!

That's when he told me I've just been having migraines.

The spots in my vision then expand to these zigzag blue starbursts which impede my sight a little bit... Enough to annoy the shit out of me.

They have been happening enough to scare me into going to the doctor. He actually told me that some people even go to the emergency room when they get these migraine auras, which apparently isn't the name of the newest Disney princess.

The thing is that the actual headache wasn't all that bad (knock on wood). It was just a dull sort of ache. I was freaking out about my vision too much to really notice it. Allegedly, there are a few other things that could occur like nausea and a heightened sense of smell. No thanks to either!

The Mayo Clinic website said that difficulty with speech or language can be a symptom, but I've always got a problem with both of those things. Anyone who's read my blog can attest to that! Plus, I've always had a little dyslexia to contend with, so I wouldn't know the difference anyway.

So, now I have to get more sleep and cut down on sugar. He said to cut back on the caffeine too, but I really don't drink much of that. One cup of coffee a day can't kill me. It's the sleep and stress that are making me see these auras. I know it.

Random Thoughts on Hotels

2012-01-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

You know what I don't like about hotels? They always put a mirror in behind the desk. So, when I sit at the desk and surf the web or do some writing, I keep getting distracted by my face. I see movement out of the corner of my eye and wonder what it is...it's just me.

Isn't there some other place they can put that thing? I know it's someone's job to design hotel rooms. Granted, most of the ones I've stayed at recent are fairly dated. But still, why did they do that? Couldn't they have put a mirror on that empty wall between the TV and the door? I guess if I wanted to make the desk a makeshift vanity, I could, but the lighting is for crap.

The hotel I recently stayed in had 4 ESPNs, Fox Sports and the Speed Channel. That's quite a lot of sports at one time. It was almost like being in a bar. Heck, I did have a bunch of wine in my room, but sadly, no men.

It also had free WiFi which seems to be more and more prevalent. In fact, I'm not sure why a hotel would still make a guest pay for Internet access. It seems so 2002.

Online Dating Chronicles: Everyone likes my pain

2012-01-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

The other day I realized that everyone secretly likes the fact that I'm single. They feed off the stories of my frustration. Dating is a train wreck and everyone has experienced it.

When you are married or in a committed relationship, you kind of aren't allowed to be as openly frustrated with your significant other. I am usually complaining about relative or complete strangers, so my venting is socially acceptable. If you vent your frustrations about your significant other, some people will wonder why you bother staying with them.

Some people wonder why I bother dating. For those who only see me picking on the idiot profiles, this might seem to be true. But lets be honest... you aren't putting up with stupidity like "I'm here to meet new people." Oh really, Einstein? I'm hear to rehash old wounds with people I already know.

The other point of frustration I have is the fact that EVERY guy says the same damn thing in their profile. Don't believe me? Look at these screen shots:

See what I have to search through? It's all frustratingly beige. The problem is that I should probably give the beige personalities a chance. Maybe they're not that boring. Maybe they just aren't experienced enough to realize that they are listing cliches and saying nothing about them as a person.

I have a problem...

2012-01-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but I am addicted to the Internet. You know how I know I have a problem? I ALMOST downloaded (bought) the theme to Flash Gordon by Queen.

Seriously. I was in a music buying groove and had to stop myself. I love that I can pick and choose the songs I buy. My collection now includes songs by Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Junior Walker & the All Stars, The Jacksons, Men Without Hats, and Men At Work. See what I mean?

What I thought was interesting is how many songs I know that come from before my time. Apparently, my parents exposed me to quite a bit of soul, disco and of course, the Beatles.

I do remember listening to KFRC quite a bit when I lived in San Francisco. Mostly because well, the music from the mid to late 1990s was crap.

Yeah, I know the music industry is evil and so is the motion picture industry. So, I shouldn't have bought the music on a day when everyone else is protesting crazy laws both industries seem hell bent on getting through Congress.

While, I didn't take down my blog or stop using the Internet for 24 hours (quel horror!) I didn't watch any movies. That was really hard.

I love movies more than I love music. I can go months without listening to music. Ok, maybe days, but I think I watch at least part of a movie every day. Really, that's who is behind the SOPA crap, right? So why don't we hit them where it hurts in addition to telling our elected representatives that we are pissed off?

I'm allergic to you

2012-01-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

Pardon me if this gets a little weird. I'm on antihistamine. My allergies decided to explode all over my sinuses today.

I blame the weirdly dry air we are having. Wasn't it dry today? It was in the mid-20s this morning and there was NO frost on my car. That's weird.

Because I spent the whole day with an itchy nose, stupid sneezes, and insane sinuses, my nose is chapped...to go along with my lips I guess.

Yes, I know I don't have a cold. I don't feel like shit other than the fact that I want to scratch off my nostrils. Actually, that's subsiding because of the Benedryl.

See, the outdoors hates me. Or Mother Nature just knows I'm not on friendly terms with her, so she's exacting some revenge. Make it rain, lady! Don't just irk me!

Although, taking two antihistamine feels pretty good. Well, I'm just really sleepy. I do have some heavy machinery to operate in the backyard. Then again, maybe I should leave the threshing to another day.

Find a New B.F.F. with Gaiam TV: A Fitness Buddy at your Fingertips.

2012-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Getting more exercise or just becoming healthier is a pretty common New Year’s resolution. How many of you have already broken it two weeks into 2012?

I know I need to get more movement into my daily routine, but I’m not a fan of going to the gym. Aside from the fact that I’m pretty clumsy, I’m easily bored by mindlessly using machines or annoyed by the people in various classes. I'm just not a joiner.

However, I’ve always been a big fan of yoga. I like the slow pace and the stretching almost always relieves me of any back pain I occasionally endure.

So, when I was asked to try out Gaiam TV, I jumped at the chance. I've got a few Gaiam DVDs and have always been happy when I remember to use them. Work out videos are the best fitness tool for me. Gaiam TV offers me not only convenience but also variety.

I’m from the generation who grew up watching moms buy Jane Fonda tapes and work out in living rooms. Gaiam TV takes that concept to a better level.

Innovative Service & World-Class Programming: You know you love Netflix and Hulu. Gaiam TV is the first streaming video subscription offering designed to reach those interested in health, wellness, yoga, fitness and personal development. They have over 2,000 titles available. Gaiam TV viewers can practice with top instructors like Rodney Yee, Seane Corn, Jillian Michaels, Mari Winsor and Kathryn Budig.
User-Friendly and Customizable Programming: You can sort and search Gaiam TV's programs to customize workouts for weight loss, total body sculpting or increased energy based on level, style, instructor and amount of available time. You can make playlists and preview selections. Plus, subscribers to Gaiam TV are offered the chance to rate and review Gaiam TV titles.
Instant Access, 24/7 Convenience: I like the fact that if I’m traveling, I can whip out my computer or iPhone and do a quick yoga workout in my hotel room. There's no waiting for a machine to be free. I don't even have to wake up early and travel to a stinky gym packed with people. Better yet, I found a video that had some yoga stretches that I can do at my office...right at my desk.Gaiam TV’s entire library of award-winning videos is available anytime, anywhere. Streaming capabilities for Gaiam TV include personal computers, iPads and smartphones.

Still not sure? Gaiam TV offers a free 10-day trial to prospective subscribers. Gaiam TV’s $9.95 per month subscription fee allows subscribers to stream unlimited content. The subscription to Gaiam TV is no strings attached; there is no commitment, and members can cancel at anytime.

Just click here to get started or maybe get back on track with that fitness goal you set up two weeks ago.

Random Thoughts on the Golden Globes

2012-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does it seem too early for the Golden Globes to be this weekend? Regardless, I'm excited even though I barely know any of the celebrities. Over the years, movies that get nominated for these awards have never been seen by me. Sometimes because they don't interest me (Avatar, Black Swan, Juno) and others because I just didn't get around to seeing them (mostly everything else).

But how much stock should we really put into these awards? For God's sake Burlesque was nominated one year for Best Comedy or Musical. Did you see that steaming pile of boredom? I wish I hadn't.

Overall, the entertainment choices available to me have been sort of lame this year.

There isn't a movie or TV show I'm excited about. I like Modern Family, but the kids on there annoy the hell out of me. They need someone to kick their ass. I missed Downton Abbey. Yes, I know. Netflix. The Help seems interesting, but that came out when getting to the movies was still a challenge for me. I can't even remember what 50/50 was about and Bridesmaids looked funny, but I've heard that for some people it was more depressing because it hit too close to home.

So, I'll watch the pregame on E! Whichever anorexic nobody they get to ignorantly talk to the actors will be a source of humor for me. Plus, it's always fun to see what people wear. I want to be wowed by fashion, but most of the time these women have hairdos that look like they forgot to use a brush and left the house five minutes before showing up on the Red Carpet.

One good thing? Us folks on the West Coast get to see the show live. The three hour delay is so lame, every other awards show. I can Google the winners and not have to sit through stupid commercials or horrendously boring speeches.

Online Dating Chronicles: A little common sense please...

2012-01-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Dating is a font of frustration. My single friends and I commiserate over happy hour, confounded by our latest rejections and frustrated by the whole process in general. Over one such, session, my friend Jen, who you can follow on Twitter, asked if she could contribute to the education of single people who are considering a foray into the online dating world...below is her post!

EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED IN LIFE- I LEARNED FROM ONLINE DATING

Spelling and Grammar are important. Forget everything you learned in Elementary School. No, I take that back. It can be as simple as a misspelled common or misused word that can make a girl wince while reading an otherwise great profile! Spellcheck is your best friend.

Smiley faces and dotting I's with hearts are cute... when you are ten. Leave them behind in your profile writing, and try to limit them in you're emailing.

Be a little humble. Braggarts were annoying in high school and they are ten times worse in dating. Let me be the judge of how smart/ fit/ good looking you are, don't tell me.

Reading comprehension. We all hated it in the yearly exams, but suddenly it kinda matters. If I am saying I am interested in a certain age group, or geographical location, and you do not fit into it, please move on. I sincerely do hope you find what you are looking for there in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

You won't get dinner (with me) if you don't clean your room. If you insist on taking a self portrait in your bathroom or bedroom, clean it up first! I'm not a neat freak, but come on. Some of those portraits are downright disgusting.

Honesty is the best policy! Whether you are saying you hike every weekend when in reality you are a video gamer, or you post pictures from five years ago when you had more hair and less waistline, stop. We are gonna find out... eventually.

And most importantly: Your resume is everything. It is your first impression. The same is true in online dating! Make a conscious effort of putting your best foot forward. We all know dating is like an interview anyway, embellishing (aka lying) to get the deal done.

So polish up on your WORD skills, cut and paste that sucker, and have your friends and/or relatives you trust review it before you put it out there for the world to see!

Random Thoughts on the Three Day Weekend

2012-01-12T21:28:00.001-08:00

Normally, people flock to the mountains this weekend to get in some snow time. This year...no snow. So, now what is everyone going to do? I hope people still leave town. Maybe I can convince them to go to the city. Who doesn't love San Francisco?

Seriously, what are you people going to do? There is some snow in the mountains. Of course, at the ski resorts its all man made. Sorry, but I want Sacramento all to myself. I'm kind of sick and tired of everyone. Well, not everyone. Just everyone I don't know.

You know what I would like to do? Nothing. I'd like to sit on my ass all day and read a book. Better yet, I'd like to watch a movie trilogy.

While I will take as many days off as I can get, they are a double edged sword. I never really have time for them. Work is out of control busy, which is good, but exhausting. So, when a three day weekend comes around, it's great, but annoying. I will have extra fires to put out when I get back on Tuesday.

Plus, I'm never satisfied. I always want just one more day...it's like waking up on a Wednesday morning...just fifteen more minutes and I'll be golden.