What's your musical horoscope? (Put your player on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that come up.)
1. I'll See You Around–Liz Phair
2. Eleven-Eleven–Film School
3. The Greeting Song–Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. The Boys of the Summer–The Ataris
5. Given to Fly–Pearl Jam
6. Status Pools–Lagwagon
7. Feel the Pain–Dinosaur Jr.
8. Shambala–Beastie Boys
9. Just Like Heaven n–Gatsbys American Dream
10. Ghost Man on Third–Taking Back Sunday
So, I had to email Jaycie's friend's mom to discuss the "googling" of Jaycie's name. I wanted to warn her that some of the content her daughter may inadvertently come across might be inappropriate. I guess one girl (yes, there is more than one) was talking about how Jodi uses swear words (I'm guessing they haven't come across The Pope's blog, yet). Nice. My parents never had to do this.
On my way to work this morning, my warning lights and sounds started going off with the STOP! Brake Failure. I was about 2 minutes from work, but I work in a shady neighborhood so I didn't want to stop. I panicked a little, but managed to regain my composure. I tested the brakes and they were working so I figured I would risk the drive home rather than get stuck in the 'hood with Ben in River Falls. When I arrived home, I opened up my owner's manual and found that the problem is most likely low brake fluid. I popped the hood, found the DOT #, then called Kelli to bring home the goods. I feel so handy. I will feel even better if the brake fluid is indeed the problem and not some expensive German gremlin.
There's quite a few articles out there about "netiquette." In these articles, they clearly write out the rules for sending emails and chatting, about forwarding messages, and even deciphering the emoticons. However, I think the topic of "googling" people needs to be tackled. We all do it. We all know we all do it, but do we need to tell people we do it. One of Jaycie's friends recently came to school and told Jaycie about how she was googling her. Of course, they found the various websites of my family members with pictures. Now, I don't put anything out here that I don't want people to read, but I don't want to have to discuss it in person either. It's just kind of creepy. I've had this conversation with Jodi a couple of times. We all know her website and most know that we (her sisters) are not allowed to read it, but it's so weird when others come across it and then want to discuss it with her or us in person. Then there are those who read and get upset with what they read. Some are offended because they feel left out of activities. They make assumptions and feelings get hurt. It's lame. Then there are those who lurk. I like them the best. I'm a lurker. I interact when I feel like it, but sometimes I just don't. At least lurkers are quiet and don't make creepy comments to your face about what they found on the internet like it's some kind of dirty secret.
Like I said before, I don't put out there what I don't want people to know. And I have to deal with those repercussions, but I just think it would be good netiquette to keep your googling to yourself. If you find me–great, either comment on the site, shoot me an email, or lurk, but don't feel it's okay to talk to me about it in person. It's just creepy.
There’s quite a few articles out there about “netiquette.” In these articles, they clearly write out the rules for sending emails and chatting, about forwarding messages, and even deciphering the emoticons. However, I think the topic of “googling” people needs to be tackled. We all do it. We all know we all do it, but do we need to tell people we do it. One of Jaycie’s friends recently came to school and told Jaycie about how she was googling her. Of course, they found the various websites of my family members with pictures. Now, I don’t put anything out here that I don’t want people to read, but I don’t want to have to discuss it in person either. It’s just kind of creepy. I’ve had this conversation with Jodi a couple of times. We all know her website and most know that we (her sisters) are not allowed to read it, but it’s so weird when others come across it and then want to discuss it with her or us in person. Then there are those who read and get upset with what they read. Some are offended because they feel left out of activities. They make assumptions and feelings get hurt. It’s lame. Then there are those who lurk. I like them the best. I’m a lurker. I interact when I feel like it, but sometimes I just don’t. At least lurkers are quiet and don’t make creepy comments to your face about what they found on the internet like it’s some kind of dirty secret.
Like I said before, I don’t put out there what I don’t want people to know. And I have to deal with those repercussions, but I just think it would be good netiquette to keep your googling to yourself. If you find me–great, either comment on the site, shoot me an email, or lurk, but don’t feel it’s okay to talk to me about it in person. It’s just creepy.
It’s only November 25th and I’ve managed to get quite a bit of my Christmas shopping done. I’m pretty impressed with myself. Typically, I do most of my shopping the week before Christmas, but I’m trying to stay ahead of the game this year. I’ve managed to knock off half my family already. The best is that I scored the an awesome gift for Maxwell last night. I’m so excited about it. I obviously can’t write much about it just in case he reads this entry, but I can’t wait to see his face Christmas morning. For the most part, I’m not going to get the kids a lot of toys. We already have way too many, so I’m going with bigger gifts for them. Maxwell has even opted for a symbolic adoption of an animal from WWF. Jaycie’s still trying to decide which big ticket item she’s going for. It should be interesting though because she has expensive taste!
I’ve struggled with the ethics behind international adoptions for quite sometime. While I understand there are many children internationally who need homes and parents, I wonder what influence our country has in the adoption process. I’m not very familiar with the adoption process at all, whether it be in the US or internationally. However, I have witnessed our country’s love of bullying others into doing what we want them to do. I fear that the US may play unfair games in order to obtain babies. See, that’s another problem too. We have tons of older children in this country who need good homes, but everyone seems to want babies, so rather than provide good homes to older US children, these parents go international to get a baby. Then there is the whole idea of how babies are becoming a commodity. In the US, usually only middle or upper class people adopt because the fees are so high. Those who have lower incomes cannot afford to become adoptive parents. This worries me. It’s as if the adoption process favors those with money rather than those who can be the best parents and provide a good home to the children. These two lines in a recent Star Tribune article articulate this concept of babies as goods rather than humans. I feel the children are getting lost in all of this.
“These notaries charge an average of $30,000 for children delivered in about nine months–record time for international adoptions.”
“The small Central American country sent 4,135 children to the United States last year, making it the largest source of babies for U.S. families after much-bigger China. Americans adopted 6,493 children from China in 2006.”
If there are any weird posts or comments, it's all Jodi's fault. She is using my computer. I've logged out and she logged me back in. I might need to report her to vox.
For a full sit-down dinner with several guests, would you rather be the one cooking or do you prefer to just show up and eat?
I prefer to be the one who cooks the meal.
Thanksgiving is probably one of my most favorite holidays. I love waking up in the morning and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with the kids while Ben complains because he wants to watch the pre-game. Every year we have to figure out how to roast the turkey because we never remember. The kids have fun watching Ben eat the neck and gizzards. This year I have a new challenge. I have to figure out how to make the gravy. Usually, my Dad makes it, but he’s not joining us this year, so it’s up to me. I’m pretty sure I have it all figured out, so I think it’ll be fine. And if it sucks, I have some back up packaged gravy. I’m most excited about dessert–cheesecake and pumpkin pie–yum!