Stereotypes

Do you ever get the feeling that stereotypes happen for a reason? I have found examples of typical stereotypes on the train ride to school two days in a row. Tons of them, and I can’t help but feel bad for thinking it (because we are raised to feel bad these days) but the stereotypes that exist are definitely seen in the everyday. I’ll provide examples of which I’ve seen in the past 48 hours:

1. A super over-weight woman (and I mean seriously overweight) eating from TWO take-out bags from McDonalds.

2. A group of Chinese people all taking pictures like they are hired paparazzi

3. A white trash looking woman (mullet and all) was resorting to child care over the phone. She was instructing her obviously young child on how to cook pizza pockets in the microwave

4. An Italian man talking to his friend almost entirely using his hands. And he was loud. This is a big no-no on the train, as ¾ of people are napping and/or completing a ridiculously hard crossword puzzle

And last but not least:

5. An African American woman (and still I’m politically correct) yelling at her one son or daughter about how they couldn’t afford to pay for something (I think a laptop or something technology related) because their father got put in jail and couldn’t pay support

If the train isn’t entertainment, I don’t know what is. And I don’t even try to see these things. They just happen. It amuses me, and makes me feel guilty for judging people in passing. But how can I help it when they fit the stereotype all-too-well?

When Good Just Happens

Yesterday was a great day. I worked from home, and found myself overly productive compared to normal. I woke up nice and early, and started working almost immediately (save making a pot of coffee). Jenny was sick, so that wasn't good, but she seemed OK when she got out of bed so I didn't feel too horrible. I worked right until 5:15, took a shower and had a date night with Gemini.

I went to his house to have supper (which is always good). I had salmon, baby potatos, assorted veggies and fettuchinni. It was tasty. Supper was followed by some cuddle-time with Gemini, and then...duh duh duh...He made a batch of the most delicious margaritas (tequila and all, but I just had one cause it's a school night!). And we played online poker in front of his gorgeous Christmas tree.

Tuesday night doesn't get better than that.

But it's Wednesday now, I'm about to get to work. Mama Dukes left to go on business *tear*, and it's rainy and grey. So, when I get enough work done I'm going to start my baking for the weekend. Wish me luck!!

Sleep is Overrated

I think about sleep alot. It is my job.
So I'm sitting here summarizing journal articles in preparation for writing my paper to be published someday, and thinking about how frustrated I am with my own sleep. Last night I was cold when I went to bed. Not unusual for me. I tend to get cold around bedtime. But I couldn't get sleepy. It was about midnight, and I was finally starting to warm up a bit.
Then my dog starts barking like the house is on fire, and I can't figure out why. I put her up in my bed and try to cuddle her and settle her down, but nothing is working. She keeps jumping off the bed and barking. I figure she's barking at my other dog because she gets territorial around bedtime. So I get out of bed and call her. She comes to me and I scoop her up and bring her to bed again. She settles for a few minutes but I'm cold still and can't sleep.
She jumps down again and starts barking. I am frustrated by this point, and leave her. But mama Dukes gets out of bed and goes downstairs only to find that the big dog is locked outside. I guess we didn't check to see if she had come in after peeing.

So, I forgive my little dog for barking. She was just protecting her big sister.

I finally fell asleep around 2am.

But I dream. I almost hate dreaming because it feels like I'm not sleeping. It was a bad dream too about my dog going psycho. I can't control her and I get scared. I wake up almost in tears at 2:30am, and lie in bed cuddling my dog. I love her, and it's not her fault I had a bad dream about her. But the weird thing is, I have had this dream before. The exact same one, with very few changes. It was at the end of the dream that I realized this, and somehow became partially conscious of the fact that I was dreaming. At that point I can wake myself up, because I have practice (from lucid dreaming). I am awake still at 3:45. I didn't look at the clock after that. On purpose because it frustrates me. But I eventually fell asleep again.

I slept until 6:26am. Maybe 3 hours over the night. So I lie in bed hoping to fall asleep again. I'm working from home today, so I could sleep more. But the house is active now and I listen to the conversations happening downstairs. I can't sleep.

I crawl out of bed annoyed at nothing at 7:16am. I start working, and think about a theory. The theory (that many people still believe) is that dreaming is your brains way of sorting out memories from the day. You basically get random firing of neurons (cells) in your brain to consolidate memory, and eliminate wasted space being taken up (memories that aren't important, if there is such a thing).

And it occurs to me...how do we have re-occurring dreams then? If it's random, why would the same "random" sequence of events happen twice or more? Obviously that theory doesn't hold, and sleep people are wasting their time. Though that part about incorporating things from the day can stand, because my dog can be a bit psycho sometimes....

To whom it may concern...

I've been checking your blog for over a year. Your posts were funny. I laughed at every single one. I added you to my favorite links at the top of my web browser. I click on your blog every day, and ever day since April (and since November before that one) I have seen the same title. I am disappointed every time, and I start to hate myself for being OCD, because I should have given up on you long ago, but I can't.

I just wanted you to know that I will check your blog for 14 more days, and then instead of giving you another chance, I will come and steal your first born child. I wont give warning either. I'm just going to come and take her. And when I have her, I will love her, and hug her, and cuddle her. Quite possibly until she goes blue in the face. And I'm not trained in CPR.

That is all.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Dr Phil Test

My grandma (love you grandma!!) sent me a test through email that apparently Dr Phil uses to see about people. You answer the following questions:
1. When do you feel your best?
A) in the morning
B) during the afternoon and early evening
C) late at night

2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps
B) fairly fast, with little steps
C) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
D) less fast, head down
E) very slowly

3. When talking to people you...

A) stand with your arms folded
B) have your hands clasped
C) have one or both your hands on your hips
D) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
E) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with...
A) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
B) your legs crossed
C) your legs stretched out or straight
D) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...
A) a big appreciated laugh
B) a laugh, but not a loud one
C) a quiet chuckle
D) a sheepish smile

6 When you go to a party or social gathering you...
A) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...
A) welcome the break
B) feel extremely irritated
C) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
A) red or orange
B) black
C) yellow or light blue
D) green
E) dark blue or purple
F) white
G) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are...
a) stretched out on your back
B) stretched out face down on your stomach
C) on your side, slightly curled
D) with your head on one arm
E) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...
A) falling
B) fighting or struggling
C) searching for something or somebody
D) flying or floating
E) you usually have dreamless sleep
F) your dreams are always pleasant

which correspond to these points:
POINTS:

1. (a) 2 (B) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (B) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (B) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (B) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (B) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (B) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (B) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (B) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (G) 1
9. (a) 7 (B) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10.(a) 4 (B) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1


Which sum to give a personality type.
OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS : Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS : Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you' re boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

I scored 31. Borderline Fussy and Practical. I don't know if this is how others feel about me, but if Dr. Phil is right, it's almost no wonder I have made few friends over the years. Oh time wasters.

And Still I Smile

I haven't been sleeping well. I don't know why, but for some reason at about 4 or 5am I wake up and can't get back to sleep. That's how I started my day. But, trying not to be pessimistic, I got up and got ready to go into school.

I got to the train in time to take the 6:55 express, but it wasn't there, and I hear over the loud speaker "Please board the train on track 3 departing in 10 minutes. All other trains are late". So I get on thinking "OK, it's making all stops but at least I'll get a seat..." And slowly the train fills with people. Turns out they canceled the 3 express trains that come before this one. I knew by this point it was going to be a sardine can by the time I arrived at my destination. But still I smiled. Why? Three reasons.

1. What else can you do? When it's out of your hands, accept it.

2. My new toy (good timing). I have been missing my music for over a month (turns out I left it in a jacket pocket, and left the jacket at a friends house). But my mama dukes won an 80G video iPod from a draw and said "you deserve it". And so with my life soundtrack, I was happy.

3. The guy who operates the train is funny. I bet this guy gets a ton of chicks. The normal train announcements go something like this: "Please stand well back from the yellow platform lines. High speed trains can pass at any time in either direction..." blah blah monotone and nobody ever listens.
But this guy must want to be a comedian, because he cracks little jokes, especially when the transit commission screws up (practically always now a days) and people are pissed off. So instead you hear "Remember to stand away from the tracks folks, cause I hear getting hit by a train hurts".
And this morning, when the train was Packed!
"Alright people, make room for the newcomers! Pushing and shoving is OK, and I highly encourage people to sit on the lap of the person next to you"
and
"If you didn't eat breakfast, try and stay on the ground level. The air gets thin on the upper floors and we don't want to scrape anyone off the ground when you pass out"
and
"When leaving the train, look on the seat next to you. There you will find your cell phone and/or your iPod. Good, now get off and go to work"

I giggled.

So the commute was crappy (again!), but still I smiled.

? Random ? Bad Blogger

I haven't wanted to blog. It's not because I have nothing to say, or that there is something that I am avoiding talking about. It's more because I'm lazy when it comes to writing these days. I find my internal dialogue even a little bit boring, and I feel like I am not very interesting.

My weekdays have been spent working on never-ending data analysis that doesn't seem to want to go right no matter how many times I play with it and re-do it. My weekends have been uneventful for the most part. Spending time with Gemini, and playing poker to get out of the house.

Speaking of poker - I learned to play.
I hated it at first, but I was OK at it. My skill has evolved over the last two months or so, in that I now understand the rules for the most part, and I know what hands beat which (for the most part). But the more I learn I find the worse I actually get at playing. I've started thinking too much, and I end up folding hands I should have taken chances on. If you know poker, this means I basically just bet chips and then fold the hand, so I end up never winning because I'm too scared to play it out till the end. It sucks.

Besides that, nothing is new. I need to start opening my eyes and ears for stupid people again or something so I'll have something interesting to say.

And in case you are wondering....my acne is only partially cleared from last month. It really has an emotional attachment to my face now I think.