Results tagged "Relationships"

So much EFFORT!

And I know. This is NOT a topic that I would usually pay any attention to, much less write a blog post about, but really — I am left with a big empty space where my faith all things underbelly used to just sit and stew in its own filth.

Because people behave badly, most of the time… with the exception of people that I know and/or am related to, right? Because TALK about going through the motions of the extreme while taking advantage of, well — EVERYTHING. While we, because I know I’m not alone, not only ask, WHO is Kim Kardashian? What has she done to be this famous? Who takes the time… I mean, who HAS the time, to be so fake? And even with people, on the whole, being less than well-behaved, apparently even those that are famous — making ungodly amounts of money for doing pretty much nothing — Even they have to reach deep down into the inner core of all things WRONG and RIDICULOUS to achieve — something? Because that is what has happened here, right? Pop culture — our society taken for a celebrity circus ride through things that don’t really exist all for the sake of an enormous dollar amount for a weird little group of people that are obsessed with “reality” television and their own reflections… right? Because the rest of us are so silly to imagine that love and marriage – you know, the BASIS of FAMILY are really all so worth it? Especially when there is a career of doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on the line.

And it’s just that — the doing of absolutely nothing that makes this all so much more dark. While we really don’t care, we are still being blasted at every turn with details of a planned to be failed marriage, the scandal that doesn’t really exist because it was planned, and the crazy dollar amounts that people are making for nothing short of make-believe. Was it love? No. Was it arranged even before an engagement? Probably. Can the groom in question read? Not likely. Does Kim Kardashian even exist, or did we make her up so that we would have someone to grace the covers of all publications everywhere? Possibly. Will more people than it’s worth go to bank on nothing more than a figment of our imaginations? OBVIOUSLY.

Because, in the light of day, she wasn’t really anyone… That is, until she filed for divorce.

[Subtitle: After Three Years of Blogging, It's Still Important]

I went online over the weekend, and the internet bored me.

And when I say bored — I don’t mean it in the sense of disappointment it’s just that nothing exciting is going on. And, whatever, I know. AUGUST. For the love of mud. Because WHO else is looking online for anything at 4 pm-ish on a late summer Saturday? I’ll tell you who. No one. Not even the people that you suspect might be online all the time. Guess what… they aren’t. They’re ‘out’ — said with my hands fluttering. Or sleeping… maybe they’re sleeping and dreaming about a time when the internet was solely used for stalking, research and shopping. Oh the shopping.

I remember when the internet started to become important, AND — I’m not that old. It was 1997 and I was just graduating from a college that DID NOT have internet access in every dorm room… or dorm… or library even. I had to book a date with Rick in the computer lab and then login via AOL on dial-up in order to do any surfing… which was limited anyway because, you know — RICK, the computer lab guy who’s desk was strategically placed in the middle of the room so he could stare at our backs and the screens we were looking at. At the very mention of going ‘online’ Rick would break out the beads of sweat. But despite the limited access, we weren’t internet starved or anything… My friends and I lived off campus my senior year and I don’t think any of us (meaning all three) even had a computer… or a cell phone. Not to mention that I was a Graphic Design major — I learned oldschool — rubylith, rulers and missing fingertips due to x-acto blades. Drawing meant something and computer graphics were a side dish. Forget about a PORT or DIAL UP connection… right? Because I didn’t know how important the internet was going to be… And you know what — it was nice.

But I couldn’t just let it stay nice. No. I had to go and get all up inside the web and learn about designing for it. Websites. Banners. gifs. jpgs…. FLASH. Knowing the science of what will work and what won’t… but not really caring at all about why. All very open-ended… and constantly changing — FAST… So fast that the thing you learned one day was insufficient the next. It all makes me think about Kit — the talking car from Night Rider. He was fast. And smart — and genuinely nice– unlike the haunted car in Christine that just tried to kill everyone… And dudes, he could talk. But was this really going anywhere? I mean — once the car could talk, it still couldn’t do many other things — it was defunct in the ability to evolve… And now, that the internet can answer just about anything you throw at it — is there anything left? Lost friends, check. Medical emergencies, check. Family, check. Shopping for everything (except H&M, damn you and WHY?!), check. Money matters, check. News, check. Life, check. And don’t let my fascination with Kit the talking car throw you, I’m still not that old.

Because three years ago in August 2008, I started this blog. Yay, Happy Birthmonth Blog! GIDDYUP! I’m not really clear on the exact date that I started posting, because at one point I became frustrated with the “beginning” and went back and deleted stuff… An action that only exacerbates the tumult of my relationship with this website. Because who can recreate the beginning? But wouldn’t it be great to go through 3 years of something, decide that things might be better if the beginning had been different and then go back and alter it? Right? Because, for whatever reason that is what I did… and you know what — IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. This blog is still this blog…

Regardless, as I sit here, amazed at what this blog has brought to me via the internet. I had no idea of the connections I would make — both professional and personal, and I NEVER could have predicted the abundance of friends that I have made as a result of blathering on about this and that. When I started, I didn’t know about the 60 million other blogs out there… I think I knew of and read 10, half of which ended a long time ago.

I was struggling to define my life that was in the midst of enormous change… kids, economy, design, ALLERGIES, the FDA…The IRS — you name it, AND I’m still searching. The whole experience has been priceless — and it isn’t even OVER, despite my occasional threat to damn the internet and all that it contains. Because apparently, it contains 3 years of me– personal, private, and OUT THERE… like a sitting duck. Because, okay — maybe not for you, but for me– that’s kind of important.

The time has come!

My sister Annie and her longtime love, Rob, are getting married on Sunday. So — let’s all think fun, lovely thoughts about romance and bright lights in the city… About family and looovvvee and all things happy matrimony… This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Please raise your glasses… To Annie and Rob…

I’m all over the place this week…

And it’s only Tuesday…

I started the week off right by falling off of my bike — landing on my face, rolling over and looking up at the sky… Birds flying overhead, the almost 3 year old suggested that I needed a helmet. Then he called the police and insisted on having a moving violation ordered by way of citation. I blatantly lied and said I wasn’t on my cellphone at the time of the accident, but the soon to not be 2 anymore rolled his eyes and suggested that a breathalyzer might be appropriate. But it doesn’t even start there.. Today I woke up over at Elly’s Blog — and when I realized that I wasn’t dreaming… she replied by complementing my legs and grammar (!$?)… So, without hesitation I whipped out my best spatula for a little Corn Bread action. Things are getting weird and I have Kevin Bacon on the brain. Did I mention… It’s only Tuesday?

What do two sisters do when their third sister is being thrown an engagement party by her Fiancé’s family — of whom the two sisters have NEVER MET BEFORE?

Well… they have Muppets made in the Bride & Groom’s likenesses OF COURSE! I mean REALLY?! What else would anyone POSSIBLY DO in a situation such as this?

Because it made perfect sense, right? For two utterly refined sisters -  one older (me) and one younger than the bride to find themselves invited to an event honoring the one in the middle and her husband to be… being thrown by lovely unassuming people that are only expecting that what anyone else would…

It’s official, my sister is getting married.

And although I’m not so sure how she’ll feel about this little online announcement to the UNIVERSE, I’m going to be THAT PERSON, and lay it all out there. Because this is exciting and I NEED TO TELL EVERYONE. I mean why keep it a secret–Why keep BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS when I have the INTERNET at my finger tips?

So… when she asked me to head out to our parents house for some necessary planning, I threw the kid in the car and did what I was told. But then our Mom surprised us by pulling out Nana’s wedding dress — which not only fit my sister — who is gorgeous, by the way (just in case you needed to know), but also sent us to the world of 1939 to when she was married… And just what are we going to DO ABOUT IT? Well we are going to drink wine, lust over the antique fabrics and decide to turn the headpiece into a necklace OF COURSE. I mean REALLY. And what would make Nana happier? The queen of the accessory…. the reason beads were invented…the spark that ignited it all.

Did I mention that I was excited?

I have already mentioned over at Small for Big that I’m not really into hearts, red and pink, lace, doilies, red roses, or padded heart-shaped boxes. They make the stores look very chipper this time of year but they’re not for me. So, giving and getting on Valentine’s Day is a little bit harder. But I refuse to ignore the holiday because frankly, any excuse to love and be loved seems like a good one to me. In my hunt for gift-giving ideas I ran across several things I thought worthy of sharing. (and a couple I can’t share with you because they’re sold out, arrrgh.) All of them would be unique “vessels” for your personal love message – some more literally than others. I’ll assume that you, dear reader, are smart enough to decide how to add your own Sweet Nothings to each item. My favorite has got to be the spare change spy coins– they’ve got secret compartments. Seriously, what self-respecting adult male doesn’t like spy gear?

1. Reindeer
   Moss Hanging Terrarium, Lbnrandt Terraria on Etsy, $18
2. Heart shaped
   key, Stat Key Company, $11
3. 2
   Carat Cup – The Ring Around Your Finger Mug, the Spoon Sisters, $15.95
4. Hollow Spy Coins,
   Think Geek, $20.99 – $25.99
5. Girafee
   Paper Doll Card (out of stock, other designs available), Hungry Dog Designs
   via Etsy,
   $8.50

Ry has her finger hovering over the BUY ALL IN STOCK button for the Terrariums… so GET ON IT!

What is your favorite Valentine’s story? Share and share alike – the fave story will land you a Bird Watcher interview here on FTB. Tons of fun. Talk about LOVE – read the last one here. 

I took it down.
 
Yes – this is the first time that I have deleted a written For the Birds word. Several Words – actually. Words that, after publishing, made me kinda sick to my stomach. If you missed it, you’re lucky – but if not — I apologize. I am not going to do THAT anymore. And, by that, I mean write weird cryptic empty thoughts about the THINGS that land me into a funk every once in a while. Things like “I am the most selfish person alive.”… and “I DON’T CARE”.

Because, even though this is all about me–which might still make me pretty selfish–I do care (insert big pounding heart). And many many many gobs of oozing love hugs to those that emailed me… I LOVE ALL OF YOU. sniff sniff. okay – now get off of me.

So what happened? Well – several things… things that I am not going to talk about at this particular time and place… because what is important is that THINGS can only get better… And with that, I promise this… Only fun. Only real. Only true. But never THAT.

I have a few enemies. Yes – I know, hard to believe.. how could anyone Not like me? At any rate… they exist and although most of them lurk around in lands far far away.. there are a few close at hand. I’m not going to lie.. some of these monsters are of my own creation… but others–well they are just simply out for blood. For example, I had to do a double take the other day while driving through Southampton Village… There he was… the large beast of an enemy walking up Job’s Lane… chills… the top of my avoidance list. I had to go around the block again in stealth mode — only to catch him oozing his slime all over Main Street. He did not look good…. old, gray, mad, mean, unhappy and probably unhealthy… which brings me to the point of this little rant… hating people — is it really worth the effort?

Hating feels terrible. It eats away causing fear and bad behavior, even more meanness… It’s a huge heavy load of feelings… UGH… feelings. Hating requires energy and skill. Notice how clumsy people are usually not haters. Hating requires planning and mapping out intentions–all while peering through the eye on the back of your head.. Never sit with your back to the door. It’s all rather stressful and time consuming… you know, running that evil empire that was created by you in your own head. Can’t we just give Peace a Chance? To be hated… well that feels pretty much the same way, but there is a shame factor that I can’t seem to figure out.

When I think about this person, and the trials and tribulations that
occurred — thus causing enemy status on both sides… I still have anger. I’m not ready to forgive… I probably never will be, and to boot — he never will either… However, having given the goosebumps a few days to settle… I can report that after catching a glimpse, some of the dread has lifted — things are feeling a little bit lighter.