I assume the world is still happening around me.
November 6th, 2009 | by TJ |I have written a LOT this week, Internet. Not only have I written here a lot, I’ve written on a lot of other blogs… a lot. I’ve also written on my own writings a lot. And oh yeah, work, too. So, while half-baked ideas have been flowing out of me all week, there hasn’t been much time left for anything else to actually happen, because it’s hard for things to happen when your fingers are consistently connected to the keyboard.
- This week? I started The Becoming People Who Comment Challenge, and it’s been awesome so far. So many people have left ME comments about how excited they are about commenting, so I can only imagine how it is being spread among other blogs as well. The comments and participation from those of you who have decided to take up the challenge have been awesome and entertaining and… er… spectacular.
- I’ve mentioned it a few times, but in case you didn’t know, every day I turn on ABC Family to watch three hours of sitcoms – Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Full House and What I Like About You – two episodes of each. This week, not only did the time change, messing up my whole schedule (Arizona doesn’t change, in case you didn’t know, and we’re like the bastard children of predictable and sensical TV schedules), but they also changed the last show of the line up. No longer do I get to spend an hour each afternoon with Vince, but instead, I now watch Grounded for Life. I kind of miss Vince, but I did always think Grounded for Life was pretty unappreciated and hilarious. I really relate to that Lily. Especially when she shrieks.
HOWever however, if you know me at all, you know I strongly object to any kind of changes in my routine, even sitcom schedule disruption. I found myself laughing at Grounded for Life. Laughs tinged with RESENTMENT and UNHAPPINESS.
- I booked a DJ! I talked to several after speaking to Mr. Hokey BS, and really got the best feeling of non-suck from Jeff Walker and his DJ company. If you’re from North East PA, you’re likely very familiar with Jeff Walker, and I’m pretty comfortable with my decision.
Now, of course, I have to book a photographer. That is presenting a whole host of other issues that I am pretty much trying to pretend don’t exist. Does anyone know a wedding photographer in North East PA? Have I mentioned I hate having my picture taken? Because I do. A lot.
- Along the commenting lines? I have spent a LOT of time this week not only commenting on other blogs, but responding to comments on my own blog. One day? I actually broke a sweat. That is pretty sad for me.
Also? I have weird rules for myself that I keep breaking, which leaves me feeling like a miserable failure for the rest of the night. For example – if I reply to comments, I either have to reply to only one or two specific comments OR reply to everyone. Because what if I reply to most comments, but leave a couple out, and the people who made those comments happen to come back and look, and see that I’ve commented on everyone around them, but left them out as some kind of Comment Shun Island? I would feel like a total asshole.
Except it keeps HAPPENING and I don’t notice until the next day or so, and by that time, it’s totally not believable if I suddenly respond, and I don’t even really know what I mean by “believable,” but I just don’t think it would be. So, I’ve been feeling like an asshole a lot this week.
- Also this week, I told my mother that I wouldn’t be making it home for the holidays this year. At all. I’ve missed Thanksgiving twice – once in college, and once last year when I flew out here to spend Thanksgiving with Phil’s family. I’ve missed Christmas exactly never times. This year, we will once again be doing Thanksgiving with Phil’s family a bit north of here, and Christmas is unplanned as of this moment.
I am pretty positive, though, that two round trip plane tickets are not going to fall out of the sky and land in our laps. I mean, I position myself, lap open, under the sky, as much as possible. The only thing falling from the sky is poop. From bird butts. Which is not exchangeable for goods of any kind.
Now, Internet, assuming that you have actually found some time with your fingers off the keyboard, what has been up with you this week?
Are you doing the comment challeenge? How’s it going for you?
How did the time change go for you? This was my first time ever NOT changing time.
What has made you feel like a total asshole this week?
Tell me something about what is happening in the world that exists outside the space between my eyeballs and monitor, and know that I will either respond to none of you, or all of you, and likely miss one of you, and if you’re the one I miss, I’m sorry in advance, and rest assured that I already feel like a total asshole for what I am inevitably about to do to you.
By Bellwether on Nov 6, 2009
I have…
…written a blog post everyday amg
…fixed my scheduling issues which made me panic
…been in too many raids
…gone to the store and forgotten what I’d really gone for
…burned my tongue twice on raspberry lattes
…played DnD and someone in the party died for the first time ever
…finally gone to the post office
…finally deposited the two week old check from my mother
…bought icecream that melted in my terrible freezer so I couldn’t even enjoy it
…got sick and slept a lot
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Bellwether Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Oh, oh, I forgot!
I found this: http://realityassassin.deviantart.com/art/Killer-Hamster-32726856
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Great. Come here, on my own blog, and totally show me up, what with your “getting things accomplished.”
Show off.
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Bellwether Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
A LOT OF THIS INVOLVED PANIC
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By Adlib on Nov 6, 2009
Ha ha! That was a great link, Bell!
Loving the comment challenge. It is helping me feel less self-conscious about commenting, and it helps to know that bloggers love all comments. I am also considering blogging as well, but I’m not sure what I would blog about. I was always self-conscious about doing that too.
Time change wasn’t too bad. Indiana has only been on DST for like 2 years now so we used to be in that “weird” club with Arizona, except our TV schedules stayed the same, i think. I used to like not having to mess with my clocks twice a year, but I’ve discovered that I really do like the extra sun in the summer. It just seems to get dark REALLY fast now that we’ve set the clocks back.
I kinda felt like an asshole when I left my anniversary balloon lying around, it deflated, and the cat ate the entire string and then barfed it up. At least it didn’t get into his intestines and kill him like happened to my best friend’s cat. :( I need to be more careful.
I also learned that a good friend of mine IRL as well as in WoW has gotten pneumonia and is in the hospital. :(
I got my best friend a much-needed DVD player for her bday.
I’ve also been really lazy at looking for a new job because I hate the one I have. (I am grateful to still have it though.)
I have also had fun getting to know you better, TJ! Tell Brinkley hi for me! :)
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I’ll tell Brinkley hi for you when he and I are back on speaking terms.
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By morgan on Nov 6, 2009
-Are you doing the comment challeenge?
Yup!
-How’s it going for you?
Alright I suppose … I wouldn’t have commented on this blog post otherwise, in fact. So I suppose that’s a step in the right direction, yes?
-How did the time change go for you?
Pretty swimmingly actually. I don’t think it’s really affected me at all!
-What has made you feel like a total asshole this week?
Hmmm … well last night, my kickball team was winning 14-2 going into the bottom of the 5th (mercy rule is: up by 10+ after 5 innings). I wanted to keep playing because I was having fun (and this is our second to last game this year), not because I wanted to keep rubbing it in the other team’s face. So I may have commented to a player or two that we should let them score 3 runs … well, one of those players doesn’t know how to do anything subtlely, to the point where some players on the other team got offended. Even one of the players on our team called us “that team”! I hate “that team” and don’t really think we were acting like “that team” usually does, but still, I felt like an asshole.
Bonus comment about something that didn’t happen between your eyeballs and monitor:
About 2 months ago I got pulled over and got a Repair Order for having my tag lights out. I got them fixed, got the car inspected, mailed in the repair order … and just yesterday received a notice that my Registration was being suspended for failing to comply with the Repair Order. Great fun.
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Your comment totally just freaked me out because we got a repair order for the same thing back in June, fixed it the next day, and I don’t think we actually sent anything anywhere. Uh oh…
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By Jen_Ann_W on Nov 6, 2009
I linked back to your comment challenge from my blog to try to get my readers to comment – me, I think I do a decent job commenting when I have something I want to say. I’ve been doing NaBloPoMo and am going strong – my hits are way up, but NO ONE is commenting on my posts, even to tell me that my writing is boring. Blah. Suck.
I’ve had a series of “duh” moments today (one in a @reply to you even) – latest realization is that there is more than one ‘jen’ in the blogosphere so it might be wise to use my twitter username when I comment so I’m differentiated from the ten billion other ‘jens’ out there. DUHRRR. I’m usually not this idiotic, I promise.
Bonus: I will be bribing my hubs to give me a back massage tonight, because OW.
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I’m having a “duh” kind of day myself – glad I’m not alone. Personally? I am making typos and grammatical errors of the type that make me stop, look, and just think, “SERIOUSLY?”
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Katie Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Jen,
Your link back got me looking at your blog. I’m just learning this commenting thing, and I’m trying. Still have a lot of times when I read something, but can’t think of a response.
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By Susie on Nov 6, 2009
The ABC fam lineup changed has left me feeling unmoored. I like Lily, but I’m not sure about the others…
NOTHING has been keeping me busy this week – my husband moved across the country, I finished my dissertation, and while I became an Aunt this week, the babeh is holed up with it’s mama (too young for excessive cheek nibbling). I have high hopes for a redeeming weekend…
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Like I said, I have always found that show to be extremely under appreciated, so I’m happy to see it… but I was indeed pretty attached to Vince.
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By Bernie on Nov 6, 2009
2 comments come to mind for this.
1. I have been forced to look at many wedding albums/videos and the one most common thread in all of them is they are mostly pictures and vids of the BRIDE.
2. No hard feelings if you never comment on my comments. I mean it is your blog and my comments are mere intrusions into your thinking out loud.
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By lux on Nov 6, 2009
i know of an amazing photographer named liesl. she currently is working out of NYC but that’s pretty close to NE PA.
she’s an awesome, down to earth girl who has also had an affinity for dyeing her hair different colors and wearing cute glasses.
check her out if you like. (:
http://photopinknyc.com/
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Thank you very much, I sent an email!
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By Swistle on Nov 6, 2009
The whole paragraph about what sorts of things fall from the sky, and about being available to catch them, was hilarious and awesome.
The time change went more smoothly than ever before.
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TJ Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I thought that being in a state that doesn’t change time would make it go more smoothly than ever before, but I was totally wrong. All my work deadlines shifted by an hour one way or the other, and I have no idea when it is acceptable to call anyone I know.
The non-changing states seriously get more of a shaft than I thought they did.
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By Fyurae on Nov 6, 2009
There was little to no recognizable food in the house, so I was forced to cook. I just made something completely delicious. I took some Bisquick biscuit mix (cheddar garlic), brushed melted butter onto the top of the biscuits when they came out of the oven (as suggested on the package). I then placed a slice of pastrami (which I have never eaten before) leftover from the sandwich makings, and sprinkled on some shredded Mexican mix cheese. Re-ovened them to melt the cheese, then just because I thought green sprinkly herbs would look pretty, I dusted them with a little bit of Italian Seasoning. They are so good. But I doubt healthy. If I can figure out how to get the picture I just sent to my boyfriend at work to make him jealous off of my phone, I will come back and provide imagery.
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By Cazenovia on Nov 6, 2009
Are you doing the comment challenge? Yes! Yes indeed I am. Or trying to, anyway.
How’s it going for you? It isn’t adding the several hours of time to my days that I had hoped it would! [Read: Crazy week.] Aside from that, going decently well enough.
How did the time change go for you? BRILLIANTLY. As in, I totally did not realize until a week ago that it was coming up, and this happened to be the week where I had things to do every. single. morning, half the time earlier than I usually had to wake up. Time-changing? With the sunlight hitting my room an hour earlier than usual.. I’m waking up earlier than usual, and feeling refreshed and stuff, and it’s AMAZING.
I’m sure it’ll wear off in the next few days, but it got me through this week!
- started new job. On intended first day of said job, was back in my room for the space of about five minutes between 6:30am and 4:00pm, and didn’t end up with time for lunch. Woops. I *should* have been gone ’til 6pm.. but on this intended first day, my manager has half-days and left at noon, whereas I got there at 1. Someone came by his office after an hour or so to let me know that, uh, he was already gone for the day. I got home early, though, so that was something.
- midterms.
- determined that I need a new knitting project while waiting for/on buses.
- worked seriously on alt-leveling and completely neglected my former-main-alt’s raids
Hopefully things smooth out for you, and your fingers adjust to the added burden!
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By Mel on Nov 6, 2009
I have been commenting my little (okay fine, big) ass off this week! Seriously, Tues-Thurs I probably commented on 6-8 blogs each day. Except today, I commented myself out. So you’re the most special for today :)
I’m just too exhausted to comment a million times today. The time change has killed me! I hate that half of my drive home is entirely in the dark. And by the time I get here I’m wiped out. This feeling will not go away until atleast February. Shitty.
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By Ellie on Nov 7, 2009
-I’m trying the comment challenge. I’m forgetful sometimes.
-It’s quite nice. Usually I’d walk to the bus stop in pitch darkness and moan about why they’d make us be awake when it is dark. Now it is daytime and I sleep less in class. xD
-Hm, not sure, I usually feel triumphant if I pwn someone.
*I got addicted to Pokemon again. /gasp
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By Katie on Nov 9, 2009
I am trying the commenting challenge. I haven’t been trying to email regarding the challenge. It has made me think more about commenting, and thinking, hey, maybe I should say something.
Time change, you’d think gaining an hour would make more likely to be on time, nope. Tempted to put that in all caps. I run late 95% of the time (yep made the percentage up). Drives my husband nuts sometimes, but he knew when he married me. Funny thing is that sometimes, for parties and such, I run just enough late to be “fashionably late”.
Responding to comments? Ehh, answer the ones you feel need answering. You shouldn’t feel the need to answer them all.
/bye off to read the rest of the backlog from this weekend.
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TJ Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
You should definitely send the emails, either for your own blog or a blog you’ve read recently. If people don’t send the emails, I don’t have anything to feature in the practice section!
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By Phaedra on Nov 10, 2009
So, I would be doing the comment challenge thing (I have commented in the past), but we got a dog last Sunday. So, I have been spending a lot less time than normal on the computer. Especially since we’re her 4th owners in her 2.5 years of life. Poor little girl…
I would recommend my photographer but I don’t know if she’s even still doing it and she was from Red Lion PA and the hike to Jim Thorpe was about the limit for her.
However – totally go with your gut for your photographer. The girl we got was someone I would be friends with and I LOVE our photos. I was so comfortable around her that I didn’t mind having my photo taken (and I HATE having my photo taken).
And man…Jeff Walker. Ahh, KRZ. I totally remember him DJing a 6th grade dance on his birthday.
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TJ Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
He DJ’d some of our dances, too! I’m now suspicious of what school district you went to!
Jeff walker himself is not going to be doing our wedding, but another DJ in his small company. I was really pleased with them.
And and and? I THINK I might have a photographer… but my mom doesn’t like them. Which, you know, does matter.
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