Check please!

Below are a seven reasons why the next time you think about getting into a political debate you should remember: there’s a time and a place for it.

• Distracting from the true purpose of the get together. Take tonight, for example. Per our habit, Mack and I usually go out to a local pub with a group of friends for trivia night. Now, the group of friends happen to be Atheists who, by and large, are a bunch of liberal Democrats. It’s their political leaning and I can respect that. However when I go out on a Wednesday night with this group? It’s because it’s not the “serious” night and I can unwind and have a great meal and drinks with friends while discussing b.s. topics. Get politics involved though? It tends to get nasty. And not in a good (kinky) sort of way.
• It causes people to argue. Again by nature I can be a turd when I want to be. I’ll pick apart what you’re saying and can be a light hearted jerk who’s sole purpose is to tease and get a laugh out of you. Politics on the whole I have found people take way too serious. Like if your view is different from theirs you’re a) narrow minded, b) idiotic, c) against human rights, and d) obviously don’t know what the issues are really about. Before you deny it, I’m quoting directly from my Facebook friends pages as to their views on people who have my political views. I guess I got off lucky since my friend has been called a Baby Killer for voting Republican. Go figure. I guess what I’m trying to get at is people take politics way too personal so why don’t we discuss something safe like the weather? Or diamond encrusted unicorns? Cause those would be awesome.
• It’s self serving. Despite how neutral you claim you are when in political debates at the core of the issue is that you’re selling your beliefs and ideals and trying to perhaps convert people to the “right” way of thinking. Granted, I know people who do debate with an open mind without the underlying agenda of conversion (usually the people play devil’s advocate; trust me I know since I’m dating one). However, most people are trying to sell something. Put another way: very few people debate just to debate. Most people debate because they want to prove something.
• Excludes the people who don’t want to debate. I think in all of the Wednesdays that we have gone out to the pub with the Atheists I can count on one hand how many times I have gotten into political discussions. Now granted political discussions don’t happen EVERY Wednesday night but perhaps once a month at most. My point, however, is usually on a Wednesday evening I rather discuss other things and relax since it’s halfway through the week and I still have two more days to get through at work to get to the weekend. I respect that some people may be coming for “serious” discussions but what of those of us who aren’t? Way to make us excluded since we don’t share your views or agenda for that evening!
• Angers the people who don’t want to debate. Along with the point made above my mood will rapidly deteriorate the longer the debate goes on. I think I wouldn’t get so angry and be so against them if they were just one of the many discussions that happened during the evening. Unfortunately though when the topic of politics come up it’s a subject that won’t get dropped and escalates where people will get riled up and keep it going for hours. What of us who have no intention or inclination of joining the talk since they want to have a light hearted non-serious discussion? I now perhaps have the best personal score for Tetris on my phone. Just what I wanted to do when I went out to the pub!
• Effectively isolating. I think the points above pretty much explain why.
• Forcing your desires upon other people. I think one of the few things that will amuse me when the political discussions come up is that it will show how hypocritical people are and how many won’t practice what they preach. I have found it amusing that typically the people who tout themselves as being very open minded are some of the most narrow minded people I know. They spout their political ideals while simultaneously stroking their own ego that they’re so open minded because they believe one thing. If you come along with a differing political view? Heaven help us you’re a grade A bigot who no sense of human decency! Right. Because my views are different from yours it means I don’t think about stuff and never think of others. Wait, what? Don’t think I’m pointing fingers at any particular political party since both sides do it and both sides need to grow the fuck up.

So there you have it people. The next time you think about getting into a political debate think to yourself: what is the purpose of this debate? Am I trying to covert them to my warped perception of reality? And will this isolate people who may not particularly want a political discussion? I don’t know about you but next time there is a lull in the conversation and people are wanting to debate something fun I’m going to stick with a safe topic: sex. Or diamond encrusted unicorns.

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I was, and remain, unimpressed.

• 5 gum wrappers.
• Excess of 20+ cigarette butts.
• Empty box of condoms. (Yes. I checked inside the box. Of course).
• Empty bottle of Bud Light. Can only assume was bought with the item above.
• Empty grande cold size Starbucks drink container.
• Wet paper towel.
• 3 big piles of dog shit.*
• Broken bottle.
• Empty cardboard holder for a $15 Fred Meyer gift card.

* No, I didn’t clean those up. It’s not my responsibility to clean up after your damn dogs, people.**
** I’ve half-joked with Mack about going and personally shitting in their yards to see how they like it.

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• Driving through the complex with trash on roof of their car.
• Riding bike while holding trash in one hand.
• Pushing it on a skateboard.
• Driving with it on the trunk (not in trunk, on).
• Driving with it on the hood of their car.
• Pushing it on top of babies stroller.
• Holding leash controlling kid in one hand, dragging trash with other.
• Open truck containing trash bouncing along.
• Man smoking cigarette and talking on cellphone while girlfriend carries garbage.
• Dog carrying trash bag in mouth.
• RARELY backseat of car or within closed trunk.

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Technorati Tags: space travel, lists, NASA, reasons why

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• Frizzy hair due to a lifetime spent dying, curling, and otherwise damaging their hair.
• Messy, smeared make-up reminiscent of their glory days.
• Desperate need to be accepted and loved.
• Wish to be back in their glory youth and often act as though they were still in their twenties.
• Spandex.
• Surrounded by some sort of groupies (cats or management staff) who are there as their “yes men”.
• Loud and obnoxious so that they are the center of attention.
• Wild, starved look in their eyes.

Technorati Tags: lists, old rock stars, frumpy middle aged women, comparison lists, comparison list, random list, amusing, lol

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• Smokey (the cat) would walk down to the grocery store, take off his fur, and smoke crack.
• Before I was born, Noah put on his super-man cape and tried “flying” and fell into the bushes. It was claimed our parents couldn’t find him for three days.
• The family that was walking towards our hotel room in Vermont was going to steal said hotel room thus I had to hide under the bed.
• The parents found (name of sibling here) in a dumpster.
• Mom ran away and joined the circus to escape me.
• The raccoon on the roof was going to break through the glass window and murder me if I fell asleep.
• Freddy Krueger was going to get me when I sleep.
• That I wouldn’t get in trouble when Adam positioned me in front of Noah’s room with my middle finger raised.
• No Doubt wrote “Just a Girl” about Noah.

Technorati Tags: sibling lies, siblings, family, family stories, warping siblings, brothers, big brothers

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• Red-lights don’t count for the first five-seconds. A few times a day, while I’m driving to and from work (and running errands), I see at least two people run red lights. Typically, it is that the light switches to yellow, and people about a mile away gun it. Mack and I learned quickly when the green light switches in your favor, don’t move for a few seconds, else you will get smashed (and most likely blamed).
• It is not necessary to signal when you merge, change lanes, or otherwise turn. I’ve only seen turn signals used on a handful of occasions here, and usually it is when they are already half-way in your lane (after NOT checking over their shoulder— they just start moving). I’ve used my horn more in eight months in Florida then my whole driving experience in Washington AND Arizona. I’m sorry Florida but I’m not a mindreader thus I can’t predict your actions as you drive that ton of death metal.
• Tail-gating is a socially acceptable (and expected) past-time. I admit I will tailgate. I’m not as bad as like, two inches away from the bumper at freeway speeds (which is very common here). Usually I will have about half a car length (to a car and a half length) between me and the car in front of me since, well, people will cut you off if you give them room to do it. Again see point above about them NOT looking and just merging as they weave through traffic. This is, unfortunately, an east-coast tendency I am well acquainted with due to one of my brothers having lived on the east coast the past twelve years. There are probably grip marks and foot imprints on my Mom’s car from her “oh shit” handling and “invisible breaking” all the time while he drives.
• There is no such thing as speed limit. Either go 10 miles above or below, NEVER ON. Yes, Florida has old people which tend to drive slower then the average driver. This in itself doesn’t particularly annoy me (unless I have somewhere to be within this lifetime). It’s when people ride my ass due to the slow person in front of me that will get my goat. Then they will swerve into the next lane (sans looking) and flip me the bird. Stay classy.
• Swerving through three lanes last minute is acceptable if there is enough room for half a car. If your exit is coming up next, please don’t drive until you’re almost past said exit, and swerve suddenly across the freeway to take the exit. It’s not cute and I’m sure if my car seat had buttons they’d be pinched off by now. I’ve seen delivery trucks do this (in front of me) all the time. I know they are paying attention to the road and exits since usually before hand they will be swerving lanes to go quickly then sudden, SWERVE, they exit.
• If you turn onto a road and someone is a mile plus away in that lane they will speed up and try to ride your ass for “cutting them off”. Another guilty behavior I do partake in, since people will pull off side roads in front of my car usually when I’m five feet away from them. However, if they are a mile plus down the road, I’ll let it slide since, well, there is no threat they’d hit my car. Just this morning I was pulling onto the main road from the side street and the car was at least a mile away and guns it doing 60mph (in a 40mph) to ride my bumper and show me what’s-what.
• Driving in the rain requires you to drive 5 miles per hour (this is also true in Phoenix). I’m probably biased since I learned to drive in the northwest so I’m used to hazardous driving conditions on a daily basis. I’ve hydroplaned so much I don’t even realize it’s really happening and just go with the flow. When it rains here (and Phoenix) people PANIC. I realize that there is excess oil on the road that will need time to wash away, but coming to a complete stop on the freeway because of that? It makes me wonder about your mental capabilities just a little.
• The worse times to drive: rush-hour (obviously) and Sunday morning (when the church crowd gets out). It makes sense about rush-hour since that is pretty much anywhere you live. My commute in Phoenix would be about thirty-five minutes without traffic and two-hours with. It sucked. Luckily my current commute goes against traffic so I’m never really experiencing it. However, a new experience is the Sunday morning (pardon the language) cluster f**k that happens. I guess it makes sense since I, technically, live in The Bible Belt but for that reason Mack and I avoid leaving the apartment on Sundays till at least 2PM.
• Driving down the wrong-way of a one-way street is socially acceptable and YOU are at fault for trying to drive correctly. When we were in Orlando this weekend for the Flogging Molly concert we were driving down a one-way and suddenly this woman swerves onto the road approaching us and glared at us for giving her an incredulous look. I get some one-ways choose themselves at random and aren’t clearly marked but in this instance it was very clearly marked and our lives were unfortunately in her bad-driving hands.
• The middle-finger is a favorite past-time and an excellent communication skill. This one I’m pretty well prepared for since one of my older brothers taught me how to flip the bird when I was four. Yes, my parents were thrilled (same with the other brother who was the first recipient of said gesture). I’m not judging (snort) Florida since I encountered this everywhere I’ve ever been within the United States, however, flipping the bird when I have right of way and you choose to go instead? Don’t mind when I pull a face at your raised middle finger as I narrowly avoid your law-breaking monster truck.
• Watch out for random pedestrians EVERYWHERE. They jump out in the dark and walk really slow… especially near beaches. I work by the beach, which brings out the best specimens of humanity otherwise known as beach bums. Especially as the weather warms up (and they steal all the parking spots) the best of the best crawl out of the wood work. Just the other day, I saw a tan, bleach-blonde girl not paying attention kind of give a “tehe” before she ran into traffic… and almost got pegged by cars from both directions. What does she do? Apologize and move out of the way? No. Stands there like a deer in the headlights before “tehe”-ing her way out of traffic. It’s not just the beach bums that dodge into traffic. People just like to randomly walk into the road since those “cross walk” and “legal” things just don’t bother them. In parking lots, sure, that is one thing (there, I am of the mentality of if you hit me, my student loans will be paid off by you), but in moving major traffic? Yeaaah. Also, jumping at our car like giselle on the safari while wearing black at night thus scaring Mack and I senseless? Priceless.
• Your big trucks aren’t tricking anyone: you are compensating. Yes, we all know what the big trucks represent for the male anatomy. Nowhere have I found the sheer size and girth of trucks then in The South. Phoenix, I admit, came close since in their hearts-of-hearts they all wish they were cowboys, but the sheer size and mass production of them will never outrank The South. When we went to the grocery store the other day, there was a truck so large it was sticking half way out of the spot (fully pulled forward) and I swear to you my head came up to the door handle (I’m 5’11″ by the way). Now, I’ll give The South the benefit of the doubt that they don’t all have small peckers but those trucks are not helping with the whole ‘NASCAR lovin’ redneck Southern’ stereotype a lot of the nation throws our way.

Technorati Tags: the south, florida, driving, driving in florida, stupid drivers, idiot drivers, bad driving, tailgating, traffic violations, rude

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Meet Mack:

He’s my boyfriend and he’s pretty cool! A few of the (many) reasons why I love my boyfriend can and he’s pretty cool are:

• He cooks. It’s not that I can’t cook or really suck at it. I follow the woman’s movement of getting us out of the kitchen! I don’t want to stand against all that women fought for…. or okay, I just don’t like cooking. But he cooks! And he’s been darn good at it, too!
• He deals with my neurotic nature. I know I’m weird, freak out easily, a worrier, and can generally be a pill but he puts up with it. Hell, even sometimes my own mother tells me to take a chill pill but he’ll deal with me (or at least pretend like he’s listening, so I’m fooled). That is pretty nice, I think.
• Has a wicked sense of humor. I have what you call a dry/sarcastic sense of humor (or as one friend put it, “morbidly black”). Not only can he dish it out, but he can take it. Mack won’t miss a beat when he gives me a hard time and will talk right back to me when I’m being my sarcastically wonderful self.
• Loves family. Mack has amazing relationships with his family and loves researching his families history. He also digs my family and will hang out with them and be a good sport about it. Also: my nephew adores him. I think even more than me (traitor).
• Spoils me. Just today he surprised me by getting concert tickets I’ve been moaning over for the past week. Flogging Molly will be down in Orlando for my birthday next weekend and what does he do? Goes behind my back to surprise me. My black mood I’ve had all week? Instantly lifted.
• Shares the same interests as me (or at least appeases my strange tastes). Does Mack have interest in my endless fascination with people watching? Potentially not, but he at least pretends like he finds it interesting. What about my obsession with CSI and Ghost Hunters? I don’t think he particularly cares but he’ll at least watch them with me. Mack will also go on long walks (or drive with me to random locations) and stand patiently while I take endless photographs of nature. Nice boyfriend? I think so.
• Loves my stupidly-smart cats (even if it is against his will). When I got Blue somehow, someway, Blue and Mack really bonded and Blue became Mack’s cat. Similarly with Bucky. Brutus, on the other hand, has a real love-hate relationship with Mack. When we first started dating, Brutus adored Mack, but now treats him with open hostility. How does Mack handle the hate? Letting the diva have his way and even pretends like he doesn’t notice when Brutus cuddles up to him in the middle of the night. He teases me that I make the cats neurotic but loves them, and me, anyway.
• Loves helping animals. I think since we have started dating, we’ve rescued two turtles, two birds, and who-knows how many other animals. Unfortunately, he won’t let me keep every stray animal we find, but at least he’ll help me make sure they’re safe. And, he cares.

I can go on, but seriously? I don’t need him to tell me to make a blog post (with the topic “how awesome Mack is”) to discuss his many virtues.

Plus, it’s not nice to brag too much.

Technorati Tags: relationships, boyfriend, romance, lists, significant other, spoiled, virtues, flogging molly concert, tickets, relationship

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What are your middle names?
I have two middle names: Elizabeth and Dee. Mack’s middle name is McBride. Dee is a tradition on my Mom’s side, Elizabeth just being pretty and my Mom wanted that. McBride is from Mack’s mothers side of the family.

How long have you been together?
Almost two years.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
A few weeks. We met online and were talking for a few weeks before we met in person. About a week later we decided to date. WE WERE THAT MUCH IN LOVE…. or at least that interested in each other.

Who asked whom out?
I honestly have no clue. I think it was kind of a mutual decision like “So, want to be exclusive?” “Sure, why not.” Because we’re romantic like that.

How old are each of you?
We’re both 23, although I’m three months (and twelve days) older. I love to give Mack endless grief about that until he points out that yes, I am older than him, not younger.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
I’d say probably mine just because I have so many of them. The odds of seeing 5 siblings versus 2… you do the math. When we lived in Phoenix one of my brothers lived there with his family about 20-minutes away. His siblings are up in Oregon (at the moment) while mine are scattered around the United States.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
My constant worrying and stressing about stuff. I’m a HUGE worrier which in turn will manifest itself in our relationship since I’ll keep bouncing ideas off him and won’t “listen” when he makes suggestions. This drives Mack up the wall, especially when I get nagging. I am working on this, I swear. Plus we like to switch the realistic versus dreamer roles every-so-often (though we can never be it at the same time, annoyingly enough). 

Did you go to the same school?
No. I went to the Art Institute (Seattle for my associates, Phoenix for my Bachelors) and he went to University of Advancing Technology. His school, on the whole, sounds a little more bad ass.

Are you from the same home town?
No. I grew up in the suburbs of Seattle while Mack comes from a medium sized down in western-middle Oregon. We both do hale from the liberal-democratic northwest.

Who is smarter?
Mack, without a doubt. He’d argue that he is just smarter in a different way than me but honestly he retains all this information about anything you really want to know (as long as it interests him, Mack would argue). He knows all sorts of information on taxes, companies, hacking, you name it. Me? My interests are in history, art, and celebrity pop-culture. On the whole his is more relevant to everyday life. 

Who is the most sensitive?
Me. I’m so neurotic it’s a given.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We haven’t really found a place that we “love” to eat out in this town yet. I think it really depends on the mood.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Thus far only cross-country. Last year in a five-month period we drove Phoenix to Jacksonville three times. It really sucked.

Who has the craziest exes?
This one would have to go to Mack since he has three exes compared to my one. Than again, my one ex probably equates to the craziness of his three combined.

Who has the worst temper?
Both of us. I don’t think I can define who really has the worst temper since we both have pretty bad ones. When mad we both get REALLY silent and withdrawn and the other will know something is wrong, try to drag the information out, and ultimately fail until the mad party decides to talk. I have been told though that I am the best at hiding and keeping my anger for longer periods of time.

Who does the cooking?
Mack. He doesn’t like my solution of dinner being cereal.

Who is the neat-freak?
I’m over-all a general neat-freak but Mack can be a neat-freak about certain small details.

Who is more stubborn?
Both of us, ugh.

Who hogs the bed?
You will not get a straight answer out of this one. He claims I am a bed hog, I insist that he is. Typically our night consists of a tug-o’-war over the bedspread while we stake our claim for the exact center of the bed. In order to prevent any disagreement (see tempter and stubborn above) I’ll say we’re both bed hogs.

Who wakes up earlier?
Weekdays we wake up at the same time but on the weekends I’d say probably Mack since I can sleep for fifteen-hours at a time.

Where was your first date?
A birthday party of one of Mack’s friends. They had a piñata, which they beat with a foot of meat then set it on fire. Good times. 

Who is more jealous?
Me. I can be downright aggressive in my jealousy. Again, working on it.

How long did it take to get serious?
I think we were always serious about the relationship, even from the start. We did our best to give it a fair try (and it’s working so far) because we both went into it looking for something meaningful and long-term.

Who eats more?
Me. I graze throughout the day to keep my blood sugar up. 

Who does the laundry?
I do.

Who’s better with the computer?
Mack plays tech support for both his family and (occasionally) mine. While I am fairly “technical” I’m by no means as super-geek (written lovingly) as Mack.

Who drives when you are together?
Mack. I have major road rage and a fairly aggressive driver who gets stressed out when someone cuts me off. The fact I have had a speeding ticket while Mack has a clean record should say something.

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This year I’m not going to set any grandiose resolutions I will quickly become frustrated with in the New Year but set more generalized goals…. stuff I am already working on which I hope further to work upon in the coming year. I know I loose patience easily and some of these will go up in smoke but hey, why not go into the New Year with a new outlook and hopefully a sense of motivation?

• Blog More. This fall/winter I’ve been sick a lot , and unmotivated with life in general. With that, I’ve been feeling generally a very uninteresting of a person and set huge goals for myself in this personal blog. I need to take a chill pill and just write for me instead of bottling it up inside… which I’m really, really good at.
• Actually do projects I talk about with friends. One of my friends and I have wanted to write a book or two together for a few years now. We started outlining the plot and due to both of us having lots of personal issues with our lives it got put on the back-burner. My friends’ new years resolution is to write our stories so hey! It should be my resolution as well!
• Test my hand in the arts again. I’ve gotten in a flux artistically in the past two years. I used to draw a lot more and have always wanted to try traditional methods of art as well as pushing the envelope digitally. I also want to learn more photography and, while not set the unrealistic goal of taking a photo everyday, try to take more photos. Course, I should probably invest in a new camera instead of stealing Mack’s, but I digress. Perhaps with this goal I should post the attempts online in my blog to get critique? My half-brother is always encouraging me to expand myself artistically and, in 2009, I’m really going to make an effort.
• Organize my life more. With the sickness and general feeling so blah I’ve had for the past few months our apartment can kind of get out of control. I made a dent while Mack was out of town but it’s starting to slip again. In 2009 I want to promise myself to devote two-hours on the weekend to just picking up the apartment, just for general sanity sake. That and keep up with the damn dishes.
• Exercise. This one will be a slow to work into goal but I think in either going to the gym or taking up running it will help with my energy levels and I won’t want to sleep 24-7. 
• And finally: keep in better touch with people. I suck at communication. The only people I talk to on a consistent basis is Mack (since we live together) and my Mom (since I want to stay in the will). I’m pretty bad at communicating and generally catching up. This is a two-way street I realize but, for my part, I want to make an honest effort to try and stay in better touch with people.

In a nut-shell my resolution is: stop envisioning huge projects that are perfect and, by starting as square one and realizing there is a learning curve, I can do all I set my mind so without stressing myself out.

What are YOUR goals for the New Year? And do you think you’ll make them or break them?

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