House Hunting

tips for house hunting in the new economy.
1. There are ALOT of houses out there right now. But one man's $200,000 house is another man's $100,000 house. No two we have seen are anything alike. Some people over-value their home, especially the ones who put the sweat equity into it.
2. If there are any kinds of bars on the doors or windows. don't do it.
3. Yesterday I drove by two homes in an older neighborhood that, on paper, was called "established" . This means that street walkers have established corners to hawk their wares, and the drug dealers have established customers. Watch, "established" could mean old, wealthy or just old and crummy.
4. A "fixer -upper" runs the gamut from needs new carpet, wood floors or paint to there is a newly formed sinkhole swallowing up your patio pool. Trust me- down here, especially, the realtors actually have to look up geography surveys to see where the sand is sinking, and there are whole neighborhoods that have cracks in the concrete walls, driveways and pool patio stucco from shaky sandy soil.
5. Always check out the neighborhood and the neighbors near your potential home. I like to drive by afer 5 to see who is hanging out in their yards, driveways or front porches. It's good to see lively neighborhood with friendly looking people, but not good if there are too many people around (especially men) who seem like they don't work.
6. Of course....look up the child predator sites.
7. Stay away from neighborhoods near Scientology elementary schools, offices or meeting places. Ok- it's just for us folks down here, but thre are schools in neighborhoods, etc everywhere. For their own protection, I should not buy a home near them. I'm a nice person really, but these people irritate me like a pea under a mattress.
OK- gotta jet! We're loading up the Xterra for a jaunt over to Oldsmar to look at houses. We made an offer on a good one recently and were high up there but someone beat us who had cash to pay. Not gonna win on that level :) have a good day kids.

A little Edna

Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of my favorite poets. Lately, I've been reading through my books of poetry and enjoying how different they all are. This book was marked "From the library of Jennifer L. McCarthy, 1994", like I have some huge wooden library with a rolling staircase (how wonderful that would be). I'm in the mood for something soulful. Here is the last verse to "Renascence" as it is printed in my volume.

The world stands out on either side

No wider than the heart is wide:

Above the world is stretched the sky, -

No higher than the soul is high.

The heart can push the sea and land

Farther away on either hand;

The soul can split the sky in two,

And let the face of God shine through.

But East and West will pinch the heart

That can not keep them pushed apart;

And he whose soul is flat - the sky

Will cave in on him by and by.

Greetings and Salutions...

Since we've had a busy past few days and made an offer on a house today, I can't pin down one certain topic to moan about so I'm just going to list them like a good lazy writer should never do.
1. The New President and his big day last week- I had alot of thoughts as I watched some of that day. But in the end, is there really anything left to say? If I say anything negative then I'm just not down with the hip MTV crowd, and if I say I have high hopes that he succeeds in making us a better country, then I'm just not as gleeful as all the journalists on tv who are in love with him (for now). The backlash has begun, which is predictable when so many hold someone up to such high expectations. Wish him well. Nothing else to say about him from my end this week.
2. Recently I read over some old posts I wrote, and laughed outloud at some items. The problem with putting your true feelings down on ether-net air is that a week later you can sound really retarded. But, that is human nature.... when you put your emotions down, it's all in a certain context. Out of context, anything can sound rather kooky. Still, I have to stand by myself- who else is going to do it?
3. Nick got glasses this week. Cute blue rimmed wire ones so he looks like the Jerry McQuire kid..although getting him to keep them on is a struggle.
4. I finished "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy in two nights. I cannot wait for this movie. If you have not read this book....you must. It's stark, spare, insufferable for it's ending, and McCarthy is like our modern Hemingway..no word is unnecessary. Viggo is going to play the adult character. "Mary Poppins" it is not. I wish I could say McCarthy is related, but not that I am aware. Maybe, way back, we both came from County Kerry Ireland.
5. Does anyone else think that Blago from ILL looks like Sam from The Lord of the Rings movies??
6. Why do so many people get riled about little ole Ann Coulter? She's a shock jock! Unfortunately for her, the facts that she does try to talk about (that are real statistics) get mired down in her droll, smug New England accent. The short skirts, the long hair, the tall black boots are a "bad girl in a Republican world" schtick that is old, already. She doesn't seem to understand why the "others" don't take her seriously.
7. My sister and brother in law are going to be great parents! I joke about how they might have twins since they seem to run in the family, but that's not really that funny when you're in labor. Now I will be Aunty Jennifer, or when I can teach them to talk... "Your highness the coolest Aunt Juju how beautiful you are aunt". Maybe
8. We about half a day left until we see if our offer is accepted on a house. There is already another offer on the table, but ours is pre-approved. We sold our one in Nashville in 45 days (were lucky) so have been renting a cute but older home. No dishwasher. Because back in the 50's, housewives adored their husbands enough to do the dishes at least after every meal :) Also this house has the old roll out windows that were really popular in the South before A/C, so not matter how tight they are, some air or heat leaks out, creating high power bills. It got down in the 30's this week again, and our poor central heat ran all night at 68 degrees. everyone slept in socks, and the old wood floors creep as they shrink up. Modern house...here we come!
well.. that's enough jabbing for the night. I am cooking some frozen stuffed clams, an old weird food I have always liked (like Sardines on saltines). No one else here really likes them, so they're all mine! Love, juju

The Guilty Pleasures of Cable TV

Until we decide to go "tv-less" again, which may never happen due to college football and certain sportsfishing cable channels, I have spent a few nights while P works late delving deep into the lurid, silly, and sometimes hilarious world of cable television. There are some really well written shows out there, such as "Mad Men", "The Tudors", and "Six Feet Under" (which was put to rest a few years ago). I enjoy the reruns, and get some via Netflix. I also enjoy some of the reality shows on Bravo like "Top Chef", "Flipping Out" and "Project Runway"...although after about 3 seasons of these type shows, the novelty starts to wear off and they lose their "coolness." However, when this stuff just isn't on, or I'm in the mood try other televised visions of humanity, there are always the guilty pleasures of tv...for example:

My Big Fat Redneck Wedding (CMT)- if you ever want to see Billy Bob and Joelle get married in on a big plot of land, after rolling around mud wrestling and eating chicken wings with their gas station wedding cake- this show is just the thing. The host, that guy who married Rosanne Barr, is pretty funny, and although the themes repeat themselves (the diving for pickled pigs feet, the all day beer drinking, the romantic tractor rides through soft red Georgia clay), it is a slice of life that makes me laugh. Sometimes, I get a little scared, though, because I know people who are just like that. They are or have been my friends, and more power to them. Hope I get invited to their weddings, because they look like fun. I"ll just make sure to get all my shots updated first.
Rock of Love (vh1)- there is a new one out called "Bus of love" or something, but it should be called "My new girlfriend has the cooties, slides on poles, and drinks Tequila for breakfast." Bret Michaels wears his bandanna with panache as he picks the ho's off one by one in this icky love fest. It's like watching a trainwreck that's heading out of Hooterville and straight into the Cafe Risque. The contestants range from Ragdoll/ Heroin chick to Blow Up Fish lips and they all LOVE BRET! And he LOVES THE GIRLS! Watch as he tries to pick the perfect new girlfriend, and spray yourself with Lysol after every episode. It's funny, but I sometimes worry about these girls, and think-- glad I don't have a daughter.
"The Real Housewives of Orange County"- I wrote about this previously but had to mention it again. Catty fake friendships, Mercedes birthdays, identical McMansions on every corner, and identical hair, boos, and tans. and shoes. entertaining, yet getting old...just like the women on it.
"Jon and Kate Plus 8"- I've seen this 2-3 times, and was amazed at how they have organized all their brood and their daily routines. What is really fun to watch, though, is the all too real jib-jabbing that goes on between the husband and wife team. Like any tired parent, they point out things the other has forgotten to do, their own faults, and the things they do not like about each child. That is reality tv.
"The Young and the Restless"- I admit it, i've loosely kept up with this one soap opera since the early 1990's. Watching this Genoa City drama is like a modern day Shakespeare play. There's the good guys, the bad guys, the innocents, the naive, the young, the restless, the bedhoppers, the stable of young studs. The main guy, Victor Newman says every single word just like this- "I AM VICTOR NEWMAN. I OWN JABOT AND NEWMAN ENTERPRISES AND NO ONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO." In the course of about a year, he always cuts off his children financially, ends up in jail, divorces his wife Nikki for the third time, and fathers a new child. THis has been going on for about 20 years. Most of the actors are very good at what they do, and there's no crazy ghost stories or that nonsense the other soaps have. But really, I do feel guilty watching it. Why? Just because it's not a Charlie Rose interview doesn't mean I'm stupid.
"Dirty Jobs" Discovery- Not a bad show at all, just fun. Mike Rowe rolls around in sludge, digs for clams, pulls out fis guts, and cleans sewers in this show about- dirty jobs. He is sarcastic, has charisma, flirts with the women when he's around them, all the while pushing muck out of a cow or some poor stopped -up pipe. Realty tv that gives props to the jobs we all wouldn't want to do. The pay-off is that most of the people that do these jobs are doing well and like their jobs. Who knew.. Americans that arent whining and complaining about their place in life.
"Law and Order"- what channel is this not aired, or re-ran on. I have watched this since it began and love the original early ones with Chris Noth, and "Lenny". Is it the finality to the "DONG DONG" of the gavel that sounds after every scene, leading down the path to the final piece of the crime puzzle, or is it the writing is so tight you could throw a penny off of it? Don't feel guilty about these, they're good for you. Not usually quite as gruesome as the flashy CSI series, Law & Order keeps the revolving door of main characters solid by layering the stories with grit, reality, and nice one-liners that end each episode on a thoughtful, if somewhat blue note.
There are more interesting things I've come across the past few years, but just thinking about this topic has slowly zapped my brain cells for the evening. See? This is what tv does to you! Hmm... maybe it's finally that month to unplug our tv again and cancel the cable. I think our Scrabble game is sad that we haven't visited lately. But wait! There's always "Jeopardy!" to stimulate my intellect, right?
Maybe I'll just wait till these cold, long winter nights are over.

Aldi - the weird supermarket

We just ventured into a new world of grocery shopping. the Aldi store. I saw a few of them around in Nashville but never had to go to one since the Superwalmart catered to our every domestic whim. Also, at the Walmart I picked up on some Spanish, which I had lost over the preceding years. It was always educational. Anyhoo, the Aldi is a spare blue and white building which has lines of carts you have to put a quarter into, in order to get inside the store. Yes.
Then, the glare of white gleaming tiles and bad overhead flourescent lighting meets you as your cart meanders through the high boxes of dry goods, some produce, and odds and ends. They have the generic brands you've never heard of like "Mill Meadow" or "Green Goblin" canned goods. Other brands sound like some senior citizen townhome communities, "Sunny Horizons" prune juice, or "Haven Fields" fresh eggs. The produce is not cheap, and we get ours cheap at local produce markets every week. Everything else, however, is a good deal...provided you come with a list and stick to it. We were the only ones under 55 there, but that's not unusual here in Clearwater during the day. The coffee cafes and hip places for us younger folks are around, but we already knew where those were before we moved here. It can be dangerous, by the way, living in Pinellas county. Lots of Seniors get in car wrecks here, and going to the Publix shopping centers is like playing Frogger with your life. I tend to go do errands after about 6 pm to avoid any hazardous drivers....
Back to Aldi, they don't have shopping bags, well they do, but you have to pay 10 cents per. We didn't know this, and our cashier was chunking our food into our cart like an SEC quarterback...a quick flick of the wrist and barely a side glance, and boom- there went our bread, our yogurts, our cereal boxes. So- in all the Aldi experience was fine. We got alot of food for only $41.00 and although it was mostly for breakfast food and a few packs of frozen veggies...that is a good deal for us. I had to get syrup- lately I have had a craving for homemade French toast and therefore had to get eggs, more wheat bread and syrup (I've got the cinnamon at home). Aldi is a little - weird. Like any off-food brand place it will take some getting used to. If you have one near you should check it out sometime....just be ready for the bland landscape and shopping carts in chains. Aldi's motto should be.... "Aldi -Absolutely Nothing but Food."

35 is FREAKING WONDERFUL

What is great about turning 35? I am not 25 and will never be again- thank God. What a hot mess I was for about -oh- 10 years between 18 and 28. Sometimes it was very fun, sometimes it was entertaining for others to watch, sometimes it was peaceful, sometimes I was enjoying life, and sometimes little demons sat on my shoulders whispering into my ears all the things I should not do.....Yet as Frost said- as I got older I did end up taking the roads less traveled, which was good thing in the end. I saved myself from perpetual train-wreckedness and spun myself out of the machine that can make you old real fast.
When you were 25, where did you see yourself in 10 years. What person did you think you would be? Actually when I was 25 I never thought about the future past a few years. That says alot, because I didn't respect the future like I learned to do soon after. Most of us probably thought we would just live forever. Most of us never thought we'd get a wrinkle, or lose any hair. I'm ok with get physically older, and have no desire to be a "Britney over 50"...you know what I mean.
And the life part happens slowly at first, then escalates like a Millenium Falcon in light speed. And our children drive us crazy, our friends start having illnesses, our parents get "retired". It can be unpredictable, like riding on the roads we took in Honduras- hugging mountains, no barrier on the side to keep your rickety bus from falling down the hill, while people speak fast Spanish, crossing yourself with them even though you sneer at the Catholic church, all the time holding tight onto your loved ones hands, praying no-one carjacks your joyride.....Hanging on for the dear life you have left. SIGH.
But I think it's all going to be ok- 35 is a good age. And 1974 was a good year.
Night ya'll. Juju mcc

THINGS THAT GET ON MY NERVES (today)

1. Gum smacking
2. when people shuffle- walk like ducks
3. Phlegm and anything that has to do with it.
4. People who make plans with you and then flake out...over and over.
5. the sound of loud commercials when you are trying to have a conversation.
6. When your garage door is up and people drive by real slow and check your junk out.
7. "Open" minded people who really get angry when you don't agree with them.
I can't think of any thing else right now....wow glad to get that off the chest. :)

The Un-P.C. and Necessary way to get a job.

Many friends have been laid off lately, or are looking for a job during a very tough job market crunch. We are all know the right way to land a great new career - the past job skills, great resume, professional references, and dressing nicely for the interview. Maybe in today's world, it's not enough! Keep in mind these helpful hints and though you may think they are too silly to use, you just file them away for that moment of desperation when you know that the job should be yours....and pull them out like a helpful little friend. So what- it's sexist, stereotyping blah blah blah--- some people in the world are still like that- and mostly likely they are your interviewer. Good luck!

For Men: If your interviewer is a woman, casually mention you watched "The Notebook", that you do crosswords in ink, and that you own a dog and a cat. Women love smart, sappy, open minded men who like dogs and cats. Also, dress very nicely in a suit, good shoes, and please shave. Nothing is more unnatractive than a 2-day shadow. It's also good to remember the pits, the teeth, and fingernails. Please do not show up looking like you just finished the back 9 and your morning catch is flopping around in your SUV's cooler. Speaking of that- rent a Prius to get to the interview and park it right in front of interviewer's office. Mention you volunteer for Big Brother and then go do it.
For a male interviewer, the fish and golfing is fine, but still dress nice and wash your face and hands. Also, don't brag about how many women you slept with in college (or high school), and don't mention your fraternity more than once- it reeks of desperation. Besides men who have it, have it, and anyone can see that you have at least 30 notches in the bedpost right? Give a good solid handshake, but don't pop any bones. Dress well, and don't wear any graphics tees or anything too casual. Mention you have Superbowl tickets, even if you don't yet. You want to look like you are management material, not some 35 year old assistant.
For Women: If your interviewer is a woman, dress conservatively and wear the best outfit you have. Women are catty, and notice details, like nails, shoes and hair. Don't get JLo and do big hair, keep it in a bun or French twist. Mention you have a social life but enjoy volunteering with (make up some charity) twice a month. Don't let her think you frequent happy hours, the last thing other women want is a new Coyote Ugly girl who'll compete for the attentions of the office men. Trust me. Mention you don't have any children- and if you do, just leave that out. Nobody needs to hear this early on about daycare schedules, illness days, etc.
If your interviewer is a man- dress like a friendly hooker- include push-up bras, high pumps (black patent), black hose even though other women will thing this is tacky some men love hose. Do the nails a few more millimeters longer than necessary, with rhinestones on the end. Wear perfume like Pink from Victoria's Secret, smile alot, don't talk too much, wear the hair down and flowing. Mention happy hours. DO NOT mention children at all. If you even have 3, do not ever say anything about them...and if you do get hired, wait 90 days before displaying any photos. Also- do not mention you are married, engaged etc. Do not wear a wedding ring. Oh yeah- get an allover spray tan before the interview- this says you are wanting to be a golden ray of someone's sunshine.

Good luck! Hope this helps. Love ya'lll JLynn

Where you don't want to be on Feb 2.

Here- in Tampa, where, according to an article in the Tamba Bay Times, about 100,000 people will be fleeing our sister county of Hillsborough to go back to their Yankee homes after the Superbowl game. Assuming most of those yanks have the dough for the Superbowl tickets. My hubby works at Tampa International, and let's just say if he's working that day, he better leave for work about an hour earlier to get there, since we live directly across the causeway from the airport. There are 220 scheduled flights leaving that day, and about 6000 rental cars will be returned.
On another fun note, the Tamba Bay Super Bowl Host Committee is kicking off a "Put on a Happy Face" campaign, asking locals to be helpful to the Superbowl visitors. For example, no bird-flipping and not cutting off people when driving. My own suggestion is to ask anyone over 65 to stay off the roads (they tend to drive really slow and also swerve between lanes while they cruise around town.) In addition, the Vin Diesels in our area need to take it easy... these are the cool cats who, after watching "Fast and the Furious" and "Biker Boys" too many times, zip around in their jacked up Honda Civics like mosqitoes, race each other down the causeways, and are just a bunch of punks in need of mom's attention.
So, unless you're one of the ticket holders, I'd stay far away from Tampa around Feb. 2. And if you are in the area, smile, wave, give good directions so that our visitors can find their way safely around town.
PS. That does not mean telling them that Ybor City is a wonderful place for the whole family after 10 any given night, unless you want your child leaving with gang friends and new tattoos.

Are you there, God? It's me, Jennifer.

It's Sunday. We usually get to church. But this morning is different...Nick has a cold we have antibiotics for, but it's always awkward when you drop your snotty kid off in a nursery and the caretakers look at you strange because your child sounds like a chainsaw..and no-one wants their child to be THAT child. Plus- there's a A&E Biography show on Meatloaf! Meatloaf! I love him! Once when first married, Phillip and I did karoake to "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I Would do Anything for Love"...it was pure magic. You had to be there. It cemented our holy union into something altogether a different type of long term commitment.
Anyway, after the fog dies off, I am sure it's going to be a beautiful Central Florida day...and a perfect day to pack up our truck and go fishing. We have family comming in next weekend so we'll be busy, and Phillip has to get back to work until Thursday (FAA people have great schedules, luckily). So, my reasoning it that we should get out and enjoy nature today. Worship in the church of salt and sand.
What would the disciples do? Go fishing, probably. Thanks for the talk, big man. We'll get out there and say our prayers of thanks tonight, being so grateful for a great family day and some time together under the sun.
Peace out kids, Juju

Mothers, don't let your daughters grow up to be henpeckers.

What really gets to me is how on so many sitcoms, commercials, etc... the women are always henpecking the male characters (sons or husbands usually). I get so frustrated over this whole view of our American suburban society as written by ad people and tv writers, like everyone is that nagging housewife on "everybody loves Raymond" and similar type shows. Some of them are cute and funny, but most just make me want to wring the necks of the actresses who take these roles? why do they want to volunteer to play a role that perpetuates the stereotype of the hen-pecker wife?
Another thing, this seems to go on in real life too....oh yes! I love being married and we have some married friends on the fringes of our social circles....but the most fun friends we have are the single, or "couple" friends- know why? Because THEY ARE STILL IN LOVE and the man doesn't put up with the nagging woman telling him how to dress, giving him a list of "things to do", or throwing him under the bus in front of dinner parties....because- he can get out like that! And so can she of course... I am not immune to this henpecking affliction- I notice things that need to Get Done and make sure they're taken care of by whomever has the time, the skills and the know-how. But the worst buzzkill in the world is being around a whole bunch of henpeckers who are commiserating about their lousy husbands, their whiny babies, or their ho-hum lives. I can't stand these type of women! No wonder most of my really good friends are ambitious, have a super sharp wit and their goals in life do not include making some poor sap miserable. Let me correct that- most men start off great- they are attractive, smart, charming.. and then some woman has to come along and act like she is Their Mother, therefore turning the man into either-
1. A "yes" person who gives up his own identity and wants so that his nagging wife will shut up, therefore losing the respect of all his friends and losing his own soul to a devil harpy.
2. A ragin lunatic who loses it, dresses up like the Bunny Rabbit on Easter and throws Malatov cocktails into some poor kid's skating rink party because his henpecker wife drove him to the edge.

Also, it's not fun for other people to be around these types of women. Everyone gets a little uncomfortable, and they may nod in agreement with her complaints but it's not authentic..they're just thinking "I am never getting married. EVER."
Let this be a warning, mother's to be.. Don't let your daughters grow up to be henpeckers. If they fall in love, tell them to let the man be a man, and then you might not be calling lawyers 10 years down the road because you stepped all over him and turned him into a mushy, whiny, emotional beanpole. Some ultra feminist types might balk at this, but that's because their issues have alot to do with Control...and marriage isn't about Control. That's the whole point.. When you get married, have children ,etc.. your husband is not your other baby, child, or something you have to put up with like some suffering old hag. Get over it- if you don't like him leave him! But dont' sit around picking on the guy for every little thing. Its not your job...it was his mom's!
And, right on cue, I am thinking of about 10 things that "we" need to do tomorrow...
see how easy that was? :)

Almost a week without posting!

Where have I been? What have I been doing? Did I save all the humans from themselves? No..just couldn't put my finger on one thing to write about. My mind is all over lately. We've been busy...had a good New Year's, I visited with my Sis at Starbuck's and in general have had a great week. Looking forward to a certain game tomorrow night...here's a rundown of thoughts that occured to me since I still can't make up my mind what specifically to write about:
1. I love children...just not in large loud groups.
2. Obama has alot on his plate- hope he's very hungry.
3. Ironman (the movie) freakin rules! I have always loved Robert Downey Jr...ever since Less Than Zero and Chaplin (not out on DVD yet though!). This almost beat out The Dark Knight for my fave action movie this year. But it's like comparing apples to oranges. Ironman had all the high-brow (that's my new phrase for the week) humour that Downey is known for with great writing, action and a fairly decent plot. Also Jeff Daniels (AKA the dude) is great as the bad guy....a different choice than most action movies, he's not some slick dark haired Eastern/European type like most Bond ,etc movies use. Great movie! Hope they do another.
4. People who choose to put themselves in a situation they already know may not be fun, enjoyable or comfortable should do themselves a big favor and NOT do that particular thing. (this is also advice for myself, as sometimes I do things for other people that I know I am not wanting to do ) Your instinct is best not left ignored. Plus your misery is not fun for others and they don't feel sorry for you.
5. Elton John and Billy Joel are coming here in March...hope to see them! I think that would be the cherry on top of most performances we have seen while married and the ones I saw earlier in life. Maybe not Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl actually sung AT ME. YES!
We're watching "The Strangers" tonight, some thriller that may be good. Waiting for The Tudors to come in the mail next...love that show. Historical fiction at it's most roll -in -the- hay best.
There is so much on the news these days I have really tuned out of it for a while, always watching but not feeling the need to write about it....
Hope you have a great day and remember...thumb, lime, upside down Corona = a perfect sunset.

Facebook.

Ok- it had to be done sooner or later- a post about Facebook. Several thoughts:

There are alot of "tracker" sites that allow you to download a program that tracks how many times someone visits your facebook page. While I'm glad those are around for those who want to use them- I'm thinking- isn't the point of Fb to interact, to voluntarily post and create a site for friends to visit and connect to you on? Am I naive in thinking it was just a pretty easy and cool networking site that I just joined in Oct. due to friends persistance...why would I worry who was looking at my page?
What if, someone I knew 10 years ago, or even 5, looks at my page about 4 times a day about 2 times a week- what if' they're just at work and bored? I used to work full-time and was always checking up on my net stuff to see who had sent me some dumb but funny political article or cartoon...it doesn't mean these people are stalkers does it? I figure- if you choose to be on FB, you can also choose what info you put on your page, and it is a networking site right? Why be paranoid. Do I really want to know if someone I knew years ago is looking at my stuff all the time? Maybe it would change the way I thought of them, maybe I want to keep that image in my head of them as a good person, not a stalker, and maybe- just maybe, they are just bored during the day like we all get and use our pcs as a distraction, not as a roadmap to our future lives.
Also, when someone, like myself, posts pictures of the Sarah Palin rally I went to see her at here in Clearwater, do they automatically think- Jennifer's a dumb redneck racist? Do they know that I've also gone to see Pres. Clinton and Pres. Bush and that I try really hard to see any politician in person that I can? There's too many puzzle pieces missing when posting photos, or info. Obviously, it's up to each person to choose these items to post. but does it really convey who we are? No. not really.
I think FB is like a yearbook for 30 year olds and older. not in a bad way, but it doesn't really show us in our totality. I was in the Latin Club in high school- but hated Latin (loved the history) and had issues with my teacher (when did I not have issues with most Bay High teachers). We can pick and choose what we post. Like anything on the internet, it could be all about image and not about a real person. As much as we might try to portray ourselves truthfully- joining groups like "Cave diving kicks ass" and "Poetry is a dead language" is fun but doesn't tell anyone what you really do every day.
The truth is- everyday life can be dedious at times, and no matter if you really did see the Holy Grail or jump off the highest cliff in the world in a parachute, it's just one moment out of your whole entire life so far. I think these moments are what make us excited, and make life fun, and we all have had adventures of of our own, but sometimes it seems like the best and brightest times are picked out to showcase. A "one -up manship" comes into play at times.
Luckily, most of my "friends" on FB are people who I came to know well in the past, maybe not for more than a few months or years, but I have always been open and honest enough to attract open and honest people with genuine souls and who are enough of their own person to not have to prove themselves as something cooler than cool.
That is the best part I have liked about FB- to see that the people that I adored/admired/loved/missed are still out there-living life as the same people they were a decade ago, maybe older and wiser, and with no intent other than to keep in touch with me for the same reason- because we can now, and because it reminds us who we were a little while ago in life. Also, to remind us we're all still around, and doing just fine...no phone calling necessary.