A Healthy Dose of Ranting & Scavenger Hunt!

Oh maaah gaaaah....

I've about had it. Had it, HAD IT, with being perfectly happy with the person I'm growing into... and then allowing myself to fall into a vat of self-denial while the cackling sentiments mock from above the boiling pit of anxiety, as my once-tough skin froths and exposes every weakness I thought I put to rest. Disgusting, no? Well, not nearly as putrid as realizing just how much time I spent, how much time I allowed myself!, to be upset. Nothing's more toxic then convincing yourself that being in someone's good graces is what will make you happy; nothing's more demoralizing than wasting energy to make that person happy, and more-or-less going out of your way to do so, and understanding... it's always going to be losing effort.

Geesh. I'm sorry; that was far more emo-tastic than I meant it to come out. But here it is: I've come to the end of my fall "break" and discovered I'm more unnerved and wound-up than when I started; while To Do list is significantly smaller, it's not where I hoped it be on a Sunday evening. Further, I've had to come to grips with the fact that there are people out there drunk on the Haterade but not slizzard (slizzerd?) enough to tell you what their real deal is. But you know what? It's the ever-constant theme of my spazzy life, and I've learned sometimes taking a selfish moment helps everybody out. So here I aaam!

Y'all know in a previous blogging life, I was mildly (okay, more like "painstakingly") obsessed with the stupid internet surveys. Don't worry: I'm not doing one of those. Instead, I'm ripping off another blog I've recently added to the reading list (and it's more like I'm helping her out so she doesn't have to tag anyone; I'm sure I'll get that "thank you" card in the mail by the end of the week). This, my friends, is what's been deemed a "Scavenger Hunt." The best part? I'm actually in the VERY thick of it and not 6 months behind the trend like normal. Sa-weet!

Rules, shmules. Here they are:

1. Tell everyone who tagged you.

2. Find and post each item on the list.

3. Tag 7 other blogs.

4. Notify each blog that was tagged.

Um, yeah... ya know what? I really don't like the whole "tagging" bit; partly because, as Nicki points out, it's got the creepy chain letter scent. Also, I'm scared I'll tag the wrong people or forget someone "worth" tagging... and as we've seen earlier in the post, I'm really trying to avoid putting any more people on the "I Hate Celia's Guts for Reasons Unclear to Me But My Groin Says So!" list. Basically, I'm just going with #2.

Get the poopy jokes out of your head and let's kick it already!

1.) Your favorite YouTube video.

OMG! I discovered this via Patrick B. a few months ago and now I can think about is how my future house MUST have a penguin habitat:

And speaking of squeals of delight, it leads nicely to #2 (again, no poopy jokes, alright!):

2.) A photo that will make everyone say "Awww."

Since I've all but gone psycho-mom and proudly displayed ample pictures of my own furry children, I found this inspiring photo I simply must share:

WHAT?! A monkey riding a piggy!? They've got the heart of a champion!

3.) A funny T-shirt:

Word pun + Irony = A few of my favorite things!

www.nataliedee.com

4.) Something geeky:

Having just recently crossed over the Mac-Mania side of all things techie, I think this is particularly hilarious... and spot on: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apple

5.) Link/Image to your favorite movie:

OMG, Nicki. Get out of my heaaad.

For anyone who knows me, even if for a short time, knows I'm (unhealthily?) obsessed with Audrey Hepburn in general, but B@T just hits me every time. I think just by stumbling on this blog you can figure it out pretty quickly. I'll spare you the embarrassing stats on my AH paraphernalia, but know I'm down to watch Miss Golightly any time, any where.

6.) A link to the newest blog you discovered:

Home girl's hilarious! Check her out!

7.) An item on your wish list:

Siiiigh... I just want my camera back. :(

Nikon, I hope those mean people who have you now are at least feeding you well. I miss you every day.

Whew! I think that's it. And considering how insanely long this post has become, I think it's appropriate to end it abruptly. Have a great week, people! And feel free to play as well!

Don't Be a Boob: Breast Cancer Awareness Deserves More Than a Suggestive Facebook Status.

It seems like my love-hate relationship with Facebook has continued...

Though I really should be working on other things (a.k.a., trying to get some actual sleep), I feel like I need to ride my creative and inspired juices when they hit. As some of you know, there's a message floating around Facebook that goes like this:

Remember the game last year about what color bra you were wearing at the moment? The purpose was to increase awareness of October Breast Cancer month. It was a tremendous success and we had men wondering for days what was with the colors and it made it to the news. This year's game has to do with your handbag/purse, where we put our handbag the moment we get home for example "I like it on the couch", "I like it on the kitchen counter", "I like it on the dresser" well u get the idea. Just put your answer as your status with nothing more than that and cut n paste this message and forward to all your FB female friends to their inbox. The bra game made it to the news. Let's see how powerful we women really are!!! REMEMBER - DO NOT PUT YOUR ANSWER AS A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE- PUT IT IN YOUR STATUS!!! PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

One, this message is so grammatically baffling I almost imploded trying to read it. Two... well, there's a lot more than I can count.

Listen, I'm all about raising awareness and using social tools to do so. But this struck a very negative chord with me; and upon posting my own reaction to the message, I realized I wasn't the only one. While I understand it's "innocence" and that it had good intentions, I’m really upset with the whole thing.

I take that back. I’m going to count.

1. First of all, it’s suggesting trashy, sexual imagery to raise eyebrows. Really? Call me crazy, but I highly doubt the women undergoing chemo or those watching friends and loved ones pumped with radiation find the process remotely sexy. Don’t get me wrong; I know we need a little humor to deal with the depressing nature it entails, and I personally am still trying to locate a “Save the Ta-Ta’s” sticker. But I just don’t see the need to slut-up the issue to make it worth discussing.
2. I also find it upsetting that my womanly “power” comes from playing in a stupid guessing game that, as we know, everyone figures out in 3.2 seconds anyways (it’s FACEBOOK, not Jeopardy). Oh, and posting a slutty, sexual innuendo as my status; that’s incredibly liberating (not).
3. Along with that, I don’t understand how getting men to scratch their head over a Facebook status really spreads awareness (other than giving them a break from scratching elsewhere); how about we post real stories about real fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, nephews and other male individuals who watched someone fight the awful disease that is cancer... and how they reacted when that person didn’t win the battle. I remember when I had my own scary breast health issues and my Dad took it upon himself to make sure I was treated with only top notch care, so much to the point that he kept it from my mom for weeks so she wouldn’t freak, often times dropping his own meetings to make sure I was always in good hands. I really don’t think this is a good platform to advocate “girl power”; breast cancer affects everyone, and we’re bastardizing the issue by making it into a trend.
4. PS. The fact that is gets all giggly about making the news shows it’s just trying to show off. Guess what, you hamhocks behind all this: you did make the news. And not in a good way.

Now don’t get me wrong; I’m all for out-of-the-box campaigns raising awareness on any issue that’s important to someone, but I’m about smart campaigns and people really being educated and informed through them. The fact that this “campaign” has demeaned the severity of a very complicated and serious disease that affects many people and offers no real substance is what bothers me; further, the fact that people subscribe to it willy-nilly and think it’s “fun” and don’t take the time to care after the hype subsides. It’s one thing to participate in the “Doppelganger” Week or play along with the 25 Random Things or getting Betty White on SNL. But c’mon... if we’re going to do something like this, at least make it uplifting and peaking people’s curiosity in a good way (and for crying out loud, using proper English).

Sigh. Okay, I know I’m overreacting and I know, I KNOW, I need to settle down. But honestly, deep down, a part of me gets really infuriated with how my and subsequent generations have access to “tools” that have the opportunity to serve as instruments of positive change; but as we’ve seen, especially recently, social networking sites have caused some serious backlashes on us “young people.” I’m tired of being lumped into this trendy, egotistical or self-righteous category because I’m cool enough to follow the “trends” of my friends in the cyber community, but too cool to know or care what’s really going on. I just want people to start questioning the absurdity of things before they broadcast it across a network of millions of people.

This post and my current status on FB is in no way an attack or calling out people who have participated in this. Again, I (kind of) get where it’s coming from and (I guess) some awareness is better than nothing at all. I understand I’m getting way too heated about it. Goodness knows I’m certainly no authority on the matter and I, myself, did the whole “What is the color of the bra you’re wearing now?” bit (I think I said “white” because I’m too poor to afford cutesy underthings). I own breast cancer awareness Vera Bradley pieces, and my frickin’ Kitchen Aid mixer is the official breast cancer awareness pink (and spawned the rest of my pink kitchen needs). Bottom line, I just encourage one and all to read up on the facts, find real ways to advocate for the cause, and remember those people you might know who have or are currently fighting. It is a fight. It’s not a fad.

And now that it's WAY past my bedtime and my soapbox is well worn, I'm stepping down and crawling into bed, hoping I don't wake up to find someone waiting outside to pummle me. I, in no way, intended to offend anyone in writing this; I did, however, hope I sparked a thought or two that next time something like this comes up, you'll have the "audacity" to challenge it for yourself.

Okay: That, and I'm really low on sleep and chocolate lately. So come, all yee pummlers, for I shall prove to be a worthy opponent!