facebook fast

I have a problem. I'm not qualified to make a diagnosis but I may be addicted to www.facebook.com. I don't know why I am so drawn to it. I wonder if in the last couple hours someone updated their status, maybe someone posted new pictures, maybe someone did something funny, the list goes on.... I imagine that if someone's status was actually life-changing, I wouldn't need facebook to hear about it. I'd bet that I don't need to know if I have 60% or 87% in common with a friend I haven't actually spoken to in years. Even if I want to know this stuff, I don't need to keep up with the "mini-feed" like I'm watching for a hidden message to save the world, right? I need help.

I will make a case in favor of facebook:
1. I can keep in contact with family members I wish I was seeing in person (sometimes the contact is actually just me checking out their page though).
2. Good friends from the past have come out of the woodwork.
3. I have gotten to know some friends better...I'd like to think we are now "good" friends.
3. I like the flair that Anne sends - it's funny. I don't post it all but it's still all funny.
4. Bishop Valletta was sent a package of M&Ms via facebook. He was disappointed to learn there wasn't a physical package of M&Ms coming his way.

I need to prove to myself that I have this facebook addiction under control. Beginning Friday at 12:01 a.m. until Monday at midnight, I will be on facebook fast. Thank you very much for your support. If you were here, right now, I would shake you warmly by the hand.

I can't wait until Tuesday!

Dad Took Me To Work

After 24 years and 10 months of begging, my dad finally took me to "Take Your Kids to Work Day." I'm sure it couldn't have been nearly as fun in the past as it was today. When I was younger, he didn't work with the police and fire departments, have a trail to walk on, or a hot dog BBQ. Today....he does:

I'll tell you what actually happened....my dad really, really wanted Marlie and James to come to the "Kids to Work Day," but because they are under 7, they had to have an adult (that's me) with them. At least I got the t-shirt, huh?

After the 4 1/2 hour fun-packed adventure, I took a refreshing nap. I needed it to gear up for swimming at the Riverdale Employees Swim Party.

Although I had an overall, good experience, I do have a couple regrets:
1. that I don't have a picture of my and my dad from today - it was his "take your kid to work day" - done and done
2. that I mentioned I knew one of the firefighters
3. that my dad told the firefighter I know that I checked him out - I did not!
4. that I told my mom the embarassing "checked out the fireman" story and he was behind me
5. that I drank some random soda at the swim park, that I thought was mine - I even crunched the ice

Better luck next year,I guess!

I'm trying!

Is there something you try to change but it's nearly impossible to do it? I cannot, for the life of me, naturally be nice. For the last 2 weeks I have attempted to say nice things in place of the automatic sarcastic or mean thing that comes to mind. This has caused me several awkward moments. I have to think through several drafts of appropriate responses before I speak, type, or text. One time, after hearing a stupid story, the best thing I could come up with was "thank you." Although I have made my best effort, I continue to be accused of meanness. When this occurs, I have felt sick to my stomach while offering the most sincere of apologies. For my feelings on apologies check out my other blog, http://paperblog08.blogspot.com/. I feel so disappointed in myself when the badness slips out. Anyway...I just wanted to put it out on the worldwide web (which is on computers now) that I am making a genuine effort to increase my niceness and decrease my meanness. It sure isn't happening over night. Be patient.