Being cool

I've just discovered that being cool is HUGE--bigger than just self-assuredness and clout. Being cool has innumerable social and economic implications... effects all levels of society, permeates all generations (my grandma's hella cool--and "hella" is a cool word), and of course, makes everything sexy. This feeling has to be one of the major causes of accidents (if not the only reason). Being cool, if you think about it really, almost always leads to being not-cool. Oh, what a a tender, fickle (not to mention seriously ridiculous... oh, and EXPENSIVE) state-of-being.

Drinking is cool. So is drinking too much, which results, most of the time, in unpleasant situations- i.e. being tardy and smelly to class, realizing how not cleaning the toilet was a mistake when your face has to hang out in there for a few hours, not remembering how and when the sharpie doodles became a new part of your face, wasting your parents' hard-earned money which they have been saving for your college since they were newlyweds and you were a mere twinkle, and of course anything involving a vehicle. When the math is done here, on drinking, turns out... not too cool. Your call though.

Technology is cool. Okay. So you're lost in God's lovely no-where and wishing you had a GPS, or better yet, an iPhone or Blackberry with a GPS app (super-selling point, I've recently learned, at AT&T). But you have neither. You do have a state/city map and the ability to call a friend BUT the map is waaaay to impossible to fold back up and you don't want anyone to know you're lost because then they will tell you what you already know--that you need GPS. Do you NEED GPS? Do you NEED more stuff? I see technology making people angry. I see technology costing A LOT of money. I also see technology spoiling us to the point at which our "it's possible" mentalities become deep, insatiable entitlement issues. Of course most tech gadgets have their benefits, but to me... it's a distraction, it's expensive, and it's just too cool. And cool leads to trouble. (Do we really KNOW that a cell-phone plastered to the side of our face or in the pocket next to your baby-makin' stuff for decades is okay for us? Who cares... it's cool.)

Have I offended you yet?

Racy clothes are cool. Man, I just don't want to elaborate. Please put those away, my husband is TRYING. Thanks.

Cars. And driving fast. Yikes. A car came off the road and down the ravine just in front of our building, feet away from our (and our neighbors') front door. He was being fast and cool. I hope he was okay. His car did not look okay. Everyone was outside watching... not cool.

Be careful with your coolness. It can easily become something you don't like. It'll turn you to the dark side ;o)

<--- Awesome

<--- Sick

<--- Tight

<--- Rad

<--- Sweeeeet

<--- Tubular

<--- Rockin

<--- Righteous

<--- Swell

<--- Off the hook

<--- Savage

<--- Hot

<--- Clutch

<--- Chill

<--- Phat

<---Dope

<---Wicked

You are a GOOD momma!

This is a humble tribute to good mommies the world over!!

Though I don't have the pleasure of knowing all the mommies, I do know many. So here, my loves, is to you! Despite your frequent thoughts that you aren't doing enough, your common, whispy wishes you had more time or more knowledge or more energy, and in full and wholesome replacement of your fear of not being a good mommy--

I, daughter of a GOOD momma, propose a virtual toast to you of GREAT strength, perseverance, love, and mommy-power!

A vous!

Votre vie et l'amour font ce monde beau!

Linda S. Pat A.

Kari H. Kathy V.

Christine H. Tannya T.

Janet M. Laura P.

Joyce W. Mandy F.

Karen S. Kerry F.

Melissa M. Antonia S.

Melody C. Merrliee H.

Leanne S. Mary H.

Linda S. Milea B.

Maria H. Millie G.

Sara B. Elizabeth K.

Kathryn B. Barbara T.

Bonnie O. Christy "Yia yia" D.

Caryn H. Malgorzata W.

Jennifer M. Aubrey A.

Jody F. Rosemary C.

Nancy R. Leslie B.

Nancy B. Valerie B.

Charlotte H. Shelley M.

Hazel H. Elizabeth L.

...To all amazing mommies, past present, and future!

Hooked on 'Tronics...Multi-task me

Classic psychology says that our brains cannot do two things at once. We know, though, that we do this all the time. I'm learning that most multi-taskers think they are brilliant at multi-tasking. We are looking at people in the eyes and then minimizing their window to bring something else to the center of our focus. Being aware of several things at once, we impress ourselves. As we become more impressed with ourselves, however, we are far more likely to discredit another. Be aware, we're not as stealthy as we see ourselves.

Have you heard some form of this line?

"Before driving while talking on the cell [without hands-free] was illegal, I would talk on the phone, listen to the radio, drink my Starbucks, yell at the kids in the back, unwrap and eat my cheeseburger, shift, AND drive...no biggy". Is this not extraordinarily frightening?

How long has it been, in hours, since you were talking to someone and, in mid-conversation, they pulled out their phone? How long has it been since you have done this?

Our minds are becoming so disorganized... so distracted. On a daily basis we hear someone else self-diagnose ADD. We drive somewhere and don't even remember driving there. If we shut down the email program or Facebook or our cell phones, the internet or technology isn't going to be mad at us, the people on the other side are. You didn't respond to my email, are you mad at me? Why did you reject my 'friend-request'?

Personally, I'm at my best when I can choose when to communicate. I'm aware this is very opposite of standard. To the digital world's surprise and dismay, I get mad, tired, overwhelmed... or conversely, too happy, to be online or on the phone. Non-robot people tend to face constant censure and reprisal for their lacking techno-punctuality.

In Frontline's documentary "Digital nation", doctors and professors consider whether excessive internet use is a disease or just a phenomenon. Most agree that the internet (including gaming) and technology can definitely become an addiction. The internet is a world were every urge we have can be answered instantly, making the non-digital world frustrating because of its tendency to be a more delayed-gratification atmosphere. How a person chooses to spend their time has a profound effect on what their brain will be like, especially when it comes to young, developing minds. The internet THOROUGHLY re-writes the rules of interaction. At least we are alone online together.

"We are consumed by that which we are nourished by"-Shakespeare

A buddhist walks up to a hotdog vendor...

...and says, "Make me one...with everything".

We don't have to have it figured out. That's not the point. Essentially, we are all trying. We're all arthritic and lovely. We all have these perpetually over-worked processing units. We're all pulling around our treasure bags full of memories and desires. We have our rituals and expectations and assumptions and pet-peeves and favorites. Tomorrow we'll be a little short and a little late. The next day we'll hang on too long and give up too soon. We all have ten thousand different passwords, tons of keys that all look the same and half are probably useless, we all stand up too fast and can't see for a second, stub our toes and get super ticked about it, whack our hands on things when they are so cold and brittle, can't stand inconsiderate drivers and have to look at them when they pass, all think of something else we need today... and I'm pretty sure we all want dessert.

I'm always wondering how we do it. Me? I have dessert. Sometimes it helps a little (and it's always delicious). Some time-travel theories say that for a person to be able to handle time-traveling, she needs to have a constant. Something in all the times traveled to. Something we are deeply connected to... so you know, our brains don't turn into actual yogurt. I don't really want to time-travel, but I feel like my CPU is just about to become Yoplait pretty often. Maybe it's all a matter of making our Constant more constant.

"Good mornings" are real sometimes...

Though waking up is usually the hardest part (of a normal, non-tormenting) day, this morning was a subtle, exquisite surprise. Deviations from norm are more than welcome- because as this "in-between" proves to be a rough flavor of tedious, I tend to get encouraged by small, happy things that happen naturally, and well... the spice is just welcome. So, as the 49 degree morning becomes the 70 degree afternoon, and as the tiny who-ville trees appear on the ends of the smallest self-supporting outreaches the trees can muster, I suppose I will acknowledge and welcome the growth and change and fully embrace the good dream that started this good morning and do what any reasonable person would do, regardless of season.... coffee.