2009

SocialVibe

So I just spent the better part of the morning mediating a battle between Firefox and Adobe Flash 10. I attempted to add the SocialVibe widget to my blog last night and was unable to work with it at all, or get onto the website. So I installed Flash, still nothing. The website and widget both work when I use Safari..but not on firefox. However, I did check another couple Flash websites on my Firefox, so I am now suspicious that it has something to do with the website itself. No matter. It’s an amazing program and I’d like to talk a little bit about my personal cause and why I like SocialVibe so much.

So for my cause, which you may or may not be able to see on my blog depending on the sillyness of YOUR flash player, I chose to start with the truth® foundation. I say start with, because since I’m not a celebrity, I am under no obligation to remain steadfastly loyal to one cause, nor do I wish to be. I looked over all of the charities before deciding, and one of the deciding factors was the dollars of funds each charity had already received through this program. That is not to say that the ones that have raised 50K + are not worthwhile causes, but I believe that every charity offered through SocialVibe is an important one, and so I wanted to begin by helping those who have not received as much funding.

I chose carefully this time, as I have always been an anti-tobacco advocate, always willing to spill annoyingly scary facts about the effects of tobacco to my friends and relatives, and was co-leader of an anti-tobacco campaign at my school a couple years back. I truly just believe it is an idiotic passtime that kills. My grandfather and my best friend both smoke like chimneys and not only do I think it’s disgusting, I don’t want them to suffer health complications, die early, or pass the effects of secondhand smoke onto me and our friends.

So if you aren’t aware of how the program works, want to learn more about the cause or are just a nice person, please click the ‘help now, it’s free’ button on my badge. It’s not a scam, simply by checking out the sponsor, the sponsor will donate money to the cause. Please help me help others! :)

Thanks guys.

How’s Mars?

I have been thinking/discussing recently the major (and ridiculous) differences between males and females. It’s astounding! As I’m currently in a relationship after some time of being single, I find myself once again shocked and frustrated by some of the things that go along with being struck by that darn arrow. First things first, the buzz can wear off pretty darn fast. Secondly, trying to read another person is like trying to decipher ancient mandarin by using hot chocolate powder. Oh sure, most body language is readable. Most sentences can be easily deconstructed. But when it comes to the opposite sex, when all mangled up with your screwed perceptions (screwed by ‘love’, of course) it becomes nothing short of impossible. Yet, being the woman that I am, I always still assume I have some idea of what men REALLY mean (never true) or what they REALLY want (usually wrong). So I go ahead and judge the situation, which may or may not shift my mood, which may or may not cause an issue with the other person. Confusing, frustrating, stupid.

Talking about this with one of my favourite people, we realized we are the same way: both insufferable overthinkers. We overanalyze every minute detail of a conversation, assume, accuse, apologize. The only solution we can think of to solve this very grave problem of personality traits is to check oneself. Everytime we catch ourselves overthinking, we must tell ourselves to halt this process before it becomes an issue. Again, easier said than done.

That’s one key difference then between males and females. I am extremely perceptive and sensitive, and therefore quite emotional. The man I’m with, however, is very unemotional and has a difficult time expressing his emotions, like many men. My friend remarked today that this, unfortunately is the case in the majority of the male sex..they are consistently taught not only not to cry, but really not to express any other emotion in words. Suppression is just as harmful to a relationship as is overexpression. A balance is required, but with neither party usually able to comply, it ends up being a relationship of two poles. The female, emotional side, and the male, stoic side. Opposites attract, but when problems occur and emotions rise, you end up with one person crying and the other silent and frustrated. It’s terrible!

I read a very significant quote the other day that makes light of the situation and yet still rings true:

“Male emotion is like female sexuality. You can’t go too fast too soon.”

Sexist? I disagree. I think that the female requires a feeling of validation in some way before she will feel comfortable getting sexual, and so maybe that is the little piece I am missing..Maybe the man requires much more of the validation of his character, assurance that you really like him, more familiarity with you, before he is able to express himself properly with you. Something to think about definitely. It makes so much sense when you work the analogy backwards!

One thing’s for sure: if only emotional chemistry was as easy as physical chemistry. Relationships would be a breeze!

The Perfect Day

I am not sure if this day could even be possible. But nonetheless, it is a collection of my favourite things. :)

Cold Orange Juice
Refreshing and beautiful..

No headache from sleeping

Fully Charged Phone/Computer

Paycheck

No tedious tasks

Amazing Food

Reading Time

Lots of Laughs

A Great Movie

Spend Time with Friends

Listen to awesome music

Get dolled up and go out

Exercise

Read the newspaper

Get an email from an old friend

Have an amazing conversation

Get a good night’s sleep.

Londontown!

So the latest news in my usually quiet life,  is that in a week and a half, I’m going to London, UK with my two best girlfriends! Charmed life. One of those two, let’s call her I, is lucky enough to own a London apartment that she has now not lived in for over ten years. How lucky are we! I kid you not. To top that off, her mother is a flight attendant and can therefore by flying with us get us all a deep discount on the flight. Basically, it is an amazing opportunity, since there is no guarantee I will ever again get such cheap flights to Britain.

There is one small catch: the kind of catch worth blogging about, I think. This particular catch (not including the other catch which is that our third best girlfriend may be unable to take time off work and come with us) is that my other best friend, let’s call her L, has a bit of a control problem, at times. As well as currently a money problem. Basically what this means for me is frequent frantic phone calls, slightly stressing about how much time she should take off work, when we’re going to plan this, freaking out, etc. The problem arose when last night I realized that if we were to do this trip, and she were to be stressed, anxious, rushed and broke the entire time, she would likely be cranky. Which would make me cranky. Which would make I overcompensate and try to keep the peace (which gets annoying in itself). Which would make the trip unenjoyable for all. We had a lengthy phone argument, which resulted in L getting extremely upset and hanging up on me. So. I feel extremely bad about it, because I can’t blame her for being stressed. It’s stressful!

I am now faced with the current situation. There is no backing out of this trip, not that I really want to, and yet I also do not wish to be rushed or complained to for a week abroad. So what to do, what to do. Since I know my friends so well, I know the best policy is likely proactiveness, setting rules, setting out a plan in case of conflict. Planning out what we want to do when, so as not to create problems in the moment. Deciding exactly where everyone wants to go and making sacrifices based on those decisions, so that everyone is happy. Putting agreements in place to ensure no unnecessary arguments. Showing up with a smile on my face and a positive attitude, ready to compromise and stand my ground, not get aggressive or angry, not get moody and enjoy myself no matter what. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity after all!

..Easier said than done.

Wish me luck!

S.

Scroll to Top