Talking To Strangers

How do you feel about talking to strangers? It's one step deeper than people watching, but it is quite a leap forward. I enjoy it. I also make sure I cut the conversation off fairly early in the game, and there are exceptions. Keeping the conversation short (1.) doesn't creep out the stranger, invading their privacy and (2.) keeps a sense of mystery that allows me to hypothesize the stranger's life. In the short amount of interaction time, I am also careful to convince the stranger that I have no ulterior motives for talking to them.

With my heavy traveling these past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to observe some interactions at the airport and on the airplane. People's reactions are difficult to generalize. I met a flight attendant traveling as a passenger and a man and his sister on their way to vacation in Santa Fe who were all conversation initiators. That makes it easy for me. I insert a few questions and comments and these conversation initiators keep on going. The airplane is a great place for perfect strangers. The storytellers come from all different cities going to a new city with a mission in mind. So, there is always a topic to talk about and a new perspective to learn from.

I met a twenty-something hippie (who was reading The Story of B and instantly earned cool points) and a late forties woman that I initiated the conversations by sharing the delicious, Christmas cookies my friend generously sent me. Both reactions were very inviting and a bit shocking that I would share my cookies. I certainly didn't stick around to swap life stories, but these small interactions have big impacts. I could tell they both felt more comfortable sitting near me on the plane. The hippie and I silently nodded a farewell as I walked off the plane and the woman made short comments throughout the flight to me.

People love to connect with one another, but it is difficult for some people to break the initial barrier of conversation. For some, to do so is even abnormal and makes them uncomfortable. I hope more people open up the opportunity to meet others in our daily, physical lives to the point that talking to strangers is as unintimidating as friending a new person on an online social network. Meeting people the old fashion way is so much more rewarding than the online avenues.

Bass Pro Shopping

What do you think of when you see a 4-1/2' fish pillow at the Bass Pro Shop?

My mom started making the hand motions of preparing fish fillets. A true sign of a fisherman's wife.

The Vietnamese Crabshack

These photos may be graphic for the crab lovers out there. Here's a before and after shot of 10 crabs my family and I had for dinner. They were steamed and served with a lemon, salt, and pepper dipping sauce. Steamed shrimp was also served.

This type of dinner takes a long time to finish but is fun and a great way to get conversations going. It reminds me of a fondue dinner, where everyone has to work before eating.

Culture Is Back In My Life

New Mexico does have its cultural charms in place. I've been feeling the vibe that the air is certainly different here than my past few years living near the Stepford Housewives. My intuition was confirmed as I was thumbing through the weekly Alibi (in Kansas City terms, it's NM's Pitch).

Just a quick glance of the Community Calendar shows a broad range of dancing options. There's classes for African Dance, East Indian Dance, Tribal Belly Dance, Soul Dance, Adult Tap, and the list goes on. There's Yoga for men, women, and babies!

Art also dominates the cultural scenes with weekly poetry readings, lectures, and gallery shows.

I feel like I'm in my college days where the opportunities to learn new things are so accessible and affordable.

Today's Fortune Cookie

"To be mature is to accept imperfections."

Networking, the latest buzz word

Do, do, do is such doo doo.

Why do people feel like they should be doing stuff all the time. Chill out, everyone.

So, it's all about networking. I used to love the word, "networking." It was a great justification for socializing and going out. Recently, the word has begun to wear on me. The word itself is being overused. Good word, but it should be used a bit more sparingly than it is today.

Getting to know co-workers and customers at a personal level helps with business, but it does not define the relationship. Good business springs from technical confidence as well as personal interactions. It seems the trends are shifting over to personal interactions and away from technical aspects. Pharmaceutical sales comes into mind, but this idea applies to many working fields.

Instead of spending all of one's time networking, how about spending it on building one's knowledge base by reading or diving into a personal hobby? This leads to my plug for personal quiet time. This block of time is so important for people's mental health. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People strongly encourages people to take time to plan the week (setting short term goals) and continuously reflecting on the long term goals. These are individual activities.

I see people get criticized for choosing to stay in after being invited to social events. That is unfortunate. Again, it is a personal choice and a right to privacy (which is tough to have these days).

Perhaps, I am speaking for myself because I feel that my most productive hours were the ones "doing nothing." Others may feel that tangible social activities prove to be more productive for them. I would just put out a warning (and this is a reminder to myself) that doing something is not knowing it. I could drink beer all my life and not know a thing about it. If I did, though, it would just create more depth into what I know. It would be a topic of great conversation and would probably earn me some credibility with others. Again, I'm writing this to remind myself that personal time allows me to dig deep into a lot of topics.

The only networking I want to do for awhile is neural networking.

The Hybrid Model- A Woman's Lifestyle

Open-minded.

Adaptable.

Creative.

Compromising.

Those words might reflect a woman's attitude when she is considering her master life plan. I took a step back to piece together all the conversations I've had with women and the trends I've seen in the media concerning women's careers.

A woman's role used to be understood as the caregiver with respect to taking care of the home and family. That really has not changed to this day, but this was on a full-time basis. Of course, I think people had more children back then also. That is pure speculation. Feeding the masses was another huge responsibility mothers undertook. Drive-thru grub and instant meals were not prevalent as in today's world. Cooking (and the resulting cleaning involved) takes quite a chunk of the day now, it must be even more back then. For example, I watched in awe as my cousin biked through the streets of Vietnam daily to the local, outdoor market. She would gracefully haggle with the vendors to gather the raw ingredients for the day's meals. That took street smarts. If a guy has trouble in the supermarket, I'd like to see him handle this environment. My point is that there were a lot of factors that called for women to dedicate themselves fully to the home and family.

Then the full-time job turned from the home to the office. This could have been the result of the women's rights movement or a result of the changing economics. Either way, businesses would have reacted to this change by investing in day cares at their companies or teenagers advertising their baby-sitter qualifications. Restaurants undoubtedly benefited from this change and continue to adapt their services to family dynamics.

Now, the trend is to find the happy medium that has the flexibility to handle both the home and work. As the world turns as it always has, companies are opening policies to accommodate these demands, which really is a great movement.

With all this in mind, how is a woman supposed to plan for her future career?

It's no longer all or nothing, it's a hybrid of lifestyles. One quick comment about men. They must balance their lives as any woman does, but men's typical expectations are to work full-time advancing their corporate careers, family or no family. It is by nature a woman changes physically and mentally by starting a family. There are mothers who still work in the office full-time, which absolutely amazes me. It must be so demanding. There are mothers who work at home full-time, which poses another challenge. How will she return to the office again?

The 2-, 5-, 10- year career plans may need to be revisited. A decision block may need to be added to the flow chart diverting the corporate route to a family route that includes an option for part-time jobs. For some working fields, flexibility is an advantage. For other fields, additional college education and certifications would be required to take on more flexible jobs. So, should one plan for a flexible job too?

I have double standard feelings about the whole topic. The media statistically show women are not making as much money or are not reaching the corporate power levels as men, but I wonder if that is a discrimination or a balancing act women sacrifice between work and family. The working mother may not think it is worth even-ing out the statistics by sacrificing her role in the family. She may not focus as much on her career since her family role lies heavily with the kids. In this case, it is a woman's choice, not her inadequacy, to fulfill a high corporate position. That's one reason why I think this is a slow trend. I think it's great that a family can have a financial ability for one of the parents to raise their children. At the same time, I like seeing a woman go to the top of the charts.

I have heard several conversations that dance around these topics, and as with any life choice decisions, there is no general answer. It is a personal choice. For the most part, people make the right ones too.

Hiking the Sandia Mountains

It's been about a month since I've gone on the Old La Luz Trail Hike, but I had to share some of the photos I took. It was a gorgeous hike during the fall season. The 7-mile trail led my group and I to the top of the Sandia Mountians, where we took the Tramway back down. It took the group and I about 4-5 hours to complete, including lunch breaks. It was the first time I truly felt the effects of altitude on my breathing.

This shows the Donald Duck rock formation. It was definitely the comical relief during the uphill hike.

This was taken after the lunch break. It was a very memorable portion of the hike. The fallen yellow leaves contrasted so well with the white tree barks, and the occasional green plants accented the scene. Nature's soundtrack was just as fitting with the crunching leaves as the hikers walked and the water brooks in the background. It was a poet's dream.
The fall season can be easily detected in this photo. The scenic mix of mountains and trees definitely portrays the Southwest flavor of beauty.

Now we're getting so close to the Tramway, we can see it. Thank goodness.

Here is a top view of Albuquerque from the peak of the mountains.

Just a Physical Move

People move for several reasons. The most common reason I've noticed is for work, and I fall into this category. Only after a couple of weeks of implanting myself into a new state, I realized I was spending my time the same way I had always done. This made me think about people who move to avoid bad situations.

Relocating doesn't change habits or personality traits. It does, however, give a sense of a fresh start. The change in environment and people may be enough to influence a personal transformation, but it would be a gradual process.

My point is that I do the same things and think the same way regardless of all the changes that happen around me. The surroundings do influence me, but it will take time before any of those repercussions show. I should check in with myself in a few months.

Big Bunny

I found my next vacation spot!

Giant bunny article

Water in the Desert

Mmm... H2O. Drink plenty in ABQ, or you'll get headaches!

Mountain Timer

I have one year to discover Albuquerque. Uprooting from my comfort zone in Kansas City and moving to an area that is literally different (the terrain, the plants, the wildlife, the people) has been exciting and refreshing.

The experience poses a personal and professional challenge that falls right at a perfect time in my life. This one year isolation from my typical Kansas City routine constructs an environment where I can reflect on my personal goals and focus on my professional objective.

I do love Kansas City and my friends there, but the best part is I am coming back. I won't be the same, however, and I hope my friends won't either. This physical relocation makes it easy to measure and realize progress. One year can transform someone. It doesn't need to be a big or obvious transformation, but it should be a positive one.

I have lived the life of a New Mexican for two weeks now and have already dispelled one of my preconceived judgements about the area. Unlike my ignorant impression that Albuquerque was all brown and turquoise, the city does indeed have trees and grass. Kansas City's charm may lie with its large, green trees that change throughout the seasons, but Albuquerque can hold its own with its mountain view and clear skies that can be seen anywhere in the city.

To offer a flavor of my experience so far, below are pictures of the Sandia Mountains and the International Balloon Fiesta. The video is a short clip of a balloon take-off.

Dual Purpose Doublemint

I'd recommend watching Chris Brown's music video of Forever before and after reading this article.

Article from the WSJ

Chew on This: Hit Song Is a Gum Jingle
By ETHAN SMITH and JULIE JARGON
July 28, 2008; Page B1

Sharp-eared pop-music fans may have noticed a brief reference to an old chewing-gum jingle buried in "Forever," Chris Brown's top-10 hit. "Double your pleasure/double your fun," the R&B singer croons in the chorus.

What listeners don't know -- and what Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. planned to reveal Tuesday -- is that the song is a commercial.

"Forever" is an extended version of a new Doublemint jingle written by Mr. Brown and scheduled to begin airing next month in 30-second spots for Wrigley's green-packaged chewing gum.

R&B singer Chris Brown's 'Forever,' which hit No. 4 on the Hot 100, is also a gum jingle.
Mr. Brown is one of a trio of pop stars enlisted by ad agency Translation Advertising, a unit of Interpublic Group of Cos., to update the images of three of Wrigley's best-known brands.

The campaign includes spots featuring R&B singer Ne-Yo doing his own take on Big Red's "kiss a little longer" jingle. And "Dancing With the Stars" regular-turned-country-singer Julianne Hough recorded a twangy version of Juicy Fruit's "The taste is gonna move ya."

But Mr. Brown's "Forever" is the most ambitious part of the campaign. Mr. Brown was commissioned to write and sing both the pop song and a new version of the Doublemint jingle, introduced in 1960.

First, Mr. Brown updated the jingle and recorded it with hip-hop producer Polow Da Don. Then, during the same Los Angeles recording sessions in February, paid for by Wrigley, Mr. Brown added new lyrics and made a 4½-minute rendition of the tune, titled "Forever."

In April, Mr. Brown's record label, Jive, released the song to radio stations and digital download services as a single. After the song became a hit, Jive added it to his 2007 album, "Exclusive," and re-released the album in June. "Forever" reached No. 4 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart last week.

All three new Wrigley jingles are scheduled to be unveiled at a news conference Tuesday in New York, with each of them to be performed by the artist involved. Mr. Brown is slated to sing "Forever" and segue into his jingle. New television commercials and radio spots featuring the jingles and print ads showing new packaging for the gum are set to appear in August.

Some of Wrigley's popular gum brands
The campaign illustrates a deepening of the ties between pop music and advertising. Rappers frequently mention luxury products like liquor or cars in songs, and occasionally serve as paid spokesmen for the brands. And for McDonald's Corp.'s 2003 "I'm Lovin' It" campaign, the burger chain, with the aid of Translation Chief Executive Steve Stoute, enlisted Justin Timberlake to write and record a song using the slogan as its chorus. But the song was never released on one of his albums.

Tom Carrabba, executive vice president and general manager of Sony BMG's Zomba Label Group, which includes Jive, says label executives initially had qualms about releasing and promoting a song recorded at an advertiser's behest "But the song was so potent and strong. That overruled us being maybe a little hesitant," he adds.

Sony BMG is a joint venture between Bertelsmann AG of Germany and Japan's Sony Corp.

Other than the "double your pleasure" line, the lyrics to the song and the TV jingle are different. But the melody and the music behind it are nearly indistinguishable. A 60-second radio ad scheduled to air starting Friday further blurs the line between the song and the commercial. It starts with a section of "Forever," and moves seamlessly into lyrics promoting the gum. "I'ma take you there, so don't be scared," Mr. Brown sings. "Double your pleasure; double your fun. It's the right one, Doublemint gum."

The campaign was conceived and executed by Mr. Stoute, a former senior executive at Interscope Records who counts rapper Jay-Z as a partner in his business. The idea was to connect the hit song and the jingle in listener's minds. That way, Mr. Stoute says, "by the time the new jingle came out, it was already seeded properly within popular culture."

TASTE OF MUSIC

The background on three Wrigley's gum jingles:
• DoubleMint
1960: 'Double your pleasure' jingle first appears; gum introduced 1914
• Big Red
1979: 'Kiss a little longer' jingle first appears; gum introduced 1976
• Juicy Fruit
1983: 'Taste is gonna move ya' jingle first appears; gum introduced 1893
Source: the companyMr. Brown said in an email that he wrote "Forever" and the related jingle in about 30 minutes each. "I actually thought it would take longer to write a jingle they would like," he wrote. "But they said it was a perfect fit after the first try."

Paul Chibe, Wrigley's vice president for North American gum marketing, declines to disclose how much Mr. Brown was paid for his role in the campaign.

Wrigley's push to update its older gum brands started earlier this year, when the company began selling them in new slim, envelope-style packages. Some of the gum was reformulated to improve its flavor and make it last longer. Juicy Fruit -- Wrigley's oldest brand, launched in 1893 -- Doublemint, Big Red, Spearmint, Winterfresh and the newer Extra line, represent around 30% of the company's U.S. gum business.

Wrigley chose Mr. Brown to develop the new Doublemint song, in part because the company's consumer research showed that African-American consumers prefer Doublemint to other gum brands. Mr. Chibe calls the move "the future of the brand."

Mr. Chibe added that the mildly suggestive lyrics have never given the company pause. "Everything he's done with 'Forever' represents the brand and it fits our brand personality for Doublemint," Mr. Chibe added.

While Wrigley has had strong sales in emerging markets, it has lost market share in the U.S., where it faces strong competition from Cadbury PLC, maker of Trident, Stride and Dentyne. Last year, the company's North American sales were flat, at $1.75 billion.

During the company's annual meeting in March, Chairman William Wrigley said he was "far from satisfied" with the company's domestic performance in 2007, though results improved in the first quarter of 2008. In April, Wrigley agreed to be acquired by Mars Inc., the closely held maker of M&Ms and Snickers, for about $23 billion.

My Comments

My initial thought was, "I feel fooled into liking this song! Quick...I need a pack of gum to make me feel better."

Marketing is a serious field and a lot more calculated than most realize. In this case, Wrigley's marketing plan began with the end in mind while it rolled out its plan in phases. First, research its target consumers: "...the company's consumer research showed that African-American consumers prefer Doublemint to other gum brands." Secondly, get a singer that can appeal to this target group. Wrigley did even better than that. They found a pop singer that appeals to an audience beyond African-Americans. Thirdly, win the audience over without the audience even knowing they're being swooned into a commercial.

This new marketing approach has so far worked seamlessly. Even after revealing that the song, Forever, is meant to be a Doublemint commercial, the momentum of the song is powerful enough that radio stations, clubs and bars will continue to play the song. Most DJs probably don't even know it's a commercial. Wrigley is just that good.

I shouldn't be surprised that this is a commercial. Making money is a part of business, especially the entertainment business. Accept it for what it is and understand its story. Commercials have a long history of having catchy tunes that people sing to for years. Wrigley just figured out a way to achieve what other companies have done while getting the consumers to enjoy their advertising. It's a bit subliminal, but that's marketing.

Bodies Revealed

"Fascinating + Real" is a perfect description of the Bodies Revealed exhibit. Disgusted comes to mind too. It's a lot like eating meat. If I don't think about what I'm eating, I'm fine. Once I begin thinking about the history behind the meat, I have a tougher time eating it. I made it a point to continuously remind myself that this is the real deal, making my stomach twist at times.

The excitement of learning anatomy flooded back to me from my high school days of physiology and psychology. That information that had been lying dormant for years in my head was slowly revived as I walked through the exhibit. The best realization was remembering that the topic of anatomy has the best terms out of any field.

Here's a small sample:
Medulla Oblongata
Dura Mater
Longitudinal Fissure
Hippocampus

How fun is that! Those would be my top choices for band names if I were to start one.

Back to the exhibit... For people in the medical field, this exhibit would be a heyday. For athletes, this exhibit would help train them to understand the muscle systems they work so laboriously to develop. I would strongly not recommend taking children to this event. The displays are too intense and at times shocking. For the curious, however, it is worth the $24.

http://www.unionstation.org/bodies/

Foo Fighters Concert

Band: Foo Fighters!!!

Venue: Kemper Arena, Kansas City

Coolest Realization: Having Dave Grohl singing live

Impressed With: The drummer, Taylor Hawkins

Best Concert Songs for the Night: My Hero, Monkey Wrench, Everlong, Big Me, Best of You (a great choice on their part to end the concert with this song)

New Song (for me at least) to Check Out: Skin and Bones

Cherry Pie

I'm being domesticated. The deal was that my friend gave me a huge bag of fresh cherries, and I learn how to bake a cherry pie. I was up for the challenge.

It has been awhile since I've really cooked or baked. There was a certain satisfacation in preparing this pie knowing that my friend picked these cherries straight from his tree. It took me exactly the length of Jay Leno's Late Night Show to finish pitting 6 cups of cherries, a lot shorter than I thought it would take. All this prep work made the pie all the more special.

I'm more of a cake person than a pie person, but I admit pie a la mode ranks high in delicious food to eat. I'm ready for the next challenge.

I'm Listening

It's a big music summer for me so far. A handful of my favorite bands have been releasing new cds this summer, including Death Cab for Cutie, Weezer, and now Coldplay. I've been making Best Buy trips on the release dates of these cds, and I just couldn't wait to pop them into a cd player.

Finding a working cd player left me in a panic tonight. My car cd player isn't working. My stereo cd player hasn't worked for years. My laptop cd player decided to not work either. In my fret of wanting to relax and listen to some fresh tunes, I was so excited and thankful to find my Discman. Now that's a man I can count on.

Jaded

I think I ingested the Jaded Gloomie in the illustration.

After two years in Kansas City, I am still discovering the city. This weekend, it was the annual Crawl for Cancer and a tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Kansas City Jazz Museum.

Last year, I thought a pub crawl for cancer was ridiculous. This year, I participated. It's amazing how quickly views can change. There was no talk of cancer, no information booths, and no pink ribbons. The only mention of cancer was every one's printed t-shirts. The team fees were a part of the donations to local charities. No doubt, a lot of money was raised. The pub crawl was sold out with a waiting list. The organizers even auctioned the last two team entries on eBay. I suppose if a pub crawl was to happen in Westport, it might as well have the money go to charities. I would recommend at least announcing the amount of money raised for cancer at the end of the crawl. Maybe a fundraising thermometer in the middle of the tent would do the trick. That always worked well in college. I wonder how people with cancer or beat cancer feel about fund raises that involve alcohol?

As for the Crawl for Cancer experience, it was a fun time. It's a must-do at least once. The majority of the people are young professionals. The area is flooded with people, I couldn't even find my co-worker's team who was on the same route. On the other hand, I encountered a few people I didn't expect to see.

A team member brought up an excellent point why he enjoys the crawl over his usual evening bar outings. He talked about how everyone is on the same playing field. There is no peacocking and no judgements on people's dress. Everyone basically has a t-shirt and jeans. The atmosphere was to talk to new people and there were plenty to choose from.

Onto the museums... Just when I thought I covered the local museums, I was proven wrong. A part of the Belgian Beer and White Wine party was to first tour the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Kansas City Jazz Museum. Before the group hiked over to the museums, my friend hung a sign on the door that read, "Out to get some culture..." I realized it was about time I got a cultural dose in sports and music.

The tours were fairly short compared to the art museums I'm accustomed to touring, but proved interesting. I enjoyed the baseball museum more than the jazz museum simply because the history of negro baseball was well-explained and inspiring. The jazz museum was presented more as a snapshot during the height of the jazz era. The jazz museum, however, was much more interactive with its music and videos than the baseball museum. Both are worth checking out at least once, as with anything else.

Who Knows You Best

I thought I knew me best. My family may know me best too. I'm comfortable to say my best friends know me best. A new group is getting to know me, and they are really impressive. Maybe you know them. They are computer tracking software.

This tracking method is one of the most effective marketing tools. Just like any relationship though, I feel uncomfortable at times when I think they know a little too much about me, yet appreciate their suggestions and input.

Last year was the first time I realized this was going somewhere. The first birthday card I received last year was from Express and inside sat a $15 gift card to help me celebrate. I thought, "I've had two boyfriends who forgot my birthdays in the past, but Express somehow manages to remember. Incredible." I'll have to wait to learn how consistent and loyal Express is to me this year.

Perhaps this tracking software is a medium between knowing myself and having others think they know what I want. I provide the direct inputs and the recommendations are provided immediately.

Fast Food Friendly

The best way to end the day is with a good laugh, and tonight I found mine at the local Taco Bell. Drive-thru food is a treat for me, and I am always in high spirits to eat after a long day of work and school.

My Taco Bell cashier today asked me if I wanted sauce. I replied with a definitive "hot sauce, please." He continued to ask if I was sure that was what I wanted. So, I jokingly threatened with a "if I find a mild packet in my order, there'll be some words." He gave in and said that he'd better not pull anything or I'd call the customer complaint hotline on him. I had to smile when I got home to find a mix of mild and hot sauce in my bag.

Tonight I realized that my drive-thru orders typically involve some bantering and joking with the cashier. Either I don't know what to order or I know exactly what I want, which is all solid premise for a little conversation fun. It is reassuring that people working in fast food still have the playful attitude after a day of dealing with demanding and hungry customers.

This situation should not be confused with flirting either. It is being friendly. Let's accept friendly conversation and human interaction as an exhibit of a healthy communication foundation. Judging others who have conversations with their grocers or while standing in line is easy to do, but a one minute conversation could brighten someone's day or even make them smile and laugh.

To paraphrase an insightful professor: Sharing true laughter with people is experiencing a moment with one another. It is a moment when no one is thinking about the past or the future, but only enjoying that very second.

Dream Book

I sat in the lobby waiting for my group to arrive. Out of habit of not knowing how to relax, I fidgeted through the nearest magazine on the coffee table. I dizzily scanned the photos of houses in New Home magazine while I thought about what I need to do an hour from now, what I need to do tonight, and what I need to do this weekend. My racing thoughts were interrupted by the security guard asking, "You looking at the dream book?" I looked up completely confused and noticed he was chuckling to himself. He was obviously joking. Looking back down at the magazine, I realized he was referring to the home magazine as a dream book.

My first thought was, "Are the items in this book that unattainable?"

My second thought was, "I wouldn't call this my dream book, but that's interesting that he sees it that way."

For most people, buying a home is a huge decision and sometimes an accomplishment. The ability to purchase a home can be a sign of discipline in saving money and the ability to provide comfortable shelter for yourself, a family, or a dog. As a fan of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I understand the positive impact a home can have on people.

... but this is not my need or dream. This is not for everyone right now.

Buying a home is a lot like being in a relationship. As my friend, trinity garcia, explains, relationships require 50% work, 30% timing, and 20% compatibility. Owning a home is no different to me. Although the market tells me it's time, I know the timing is all wrong.

That leads me to think what is my dream book? I am not sure. It could be my growing lack of imagination or a sign of being where I want to be in life. I also like to entertain the idea that my dreams cannot be described with photos of materialistic products. My dreams are ideas, adventures, experience, and strong relationships.

Making a list of To-Do items or a list of life goals is easy. Making a list of dreams is much harder than expected, but it is still worth considering.

Power Play

Mistake #1: Judging a business by its building.
Mistake #2: Judging a business by its website.

Redemption #1: Giving the business a try, anyway.
Redemption #2: Giving the business positive reviews.

Thanks to the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and my workplace, I was able to enjoy all I can eat, drink, and play for $10 at Power Play. I was in heaven. Power Play is a "family entertainment center" full of arcade games, a bowling alley, go-karts, tilt-a-whirl, and so much more I didn't have time to discover.

At first, I was leery to attend a professional event in such a goofy environment. Their website (powerplaykc.com) reeks of cheesy jingles and flashy graphics. I'm not sure when I thought I was too cool for this, but I was probably the most un-cool as I went crazy on the arcade games. I'm sure I had that look in my eyes. You know, that crazy look.

I never in my life thought someone would give me a play card and say, "You can play anything you want for free for the next few hours." Despite the fact that I had this shopping spree, I've concluded that I've enjoyed my time at Power Play much more than any other experience at Dave and Busters in KC. The game selection was more extensive at Power Play and so were the activities. I didn't feel overwhelmed at Power Play. I'm unsure if they toned down the bells and whistles for the event, but I did like the layout of the place.

At the end of the night, I indulged in one my favorite, yet unsatisfying games- The Crane Game. Tonight's potential prize... a 6-inch white teddy bear wearing an ICEE t-shirt, and I wanted it bad. I came home with this instead...

... it's a fish that expands 600% in size.

Power Play is definitely worth a return visit.

Fear of Status Quo

I choose not to be the living dead.

I write this in a zombie-like state. After an 8 to 5 day at work followed by an evening class, I know I will repeat the same pattern tomorrow. Going through the motions like a zombie from Night of the Living Dead, I am at least glad I don't feed on other people's brains. My salvation at the end of the day: food, books, internet, people, tv. Tonight it is food, a book, and the internet. I've waited 13 hours since I woke up to enjoy my two hour window of choice.

This pattern is a trap that is so entrenched into everyone's lives that people don't recognize it or know how to change it. I don't know how to change it. Yet.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
-Mark Twain

Everything popular is wrong.
-Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

This is why I read. People have figured out how to escape this trap before, and they hide it in books.

Fireplace

After two years in my apartment, I am finally using my fireplace. It is absolutely wonderful.

I Choo-choo- choose you.

Valentine's Day is in three days. So, when I prepared to watch the CBS Sunday Morning News(one of my favorite shows), I expected at least one segment highlighting the holiday. I expected a segment discussing the holiday's origins or maybe discussing the holiday's commercial influence on the economy. I smiled when I learned that the Valentine's Day segment was about marriage and divorce.

Not that marriage is funny or that divorce is funny. Nooo... they are both very serious. However, it was funny that a news program that focuses on good news was taking a reality check.

Here are a list of statistics the segment provided that I found interesting:

- 50% of married couples get divorced
- Or if you glass is half full, 50% of married couples stay together
- The divorce rate doubled from 1960 to 1980
- The divorce rate has been stable since the 1980s
- The average male gets married at 27 years
- The average female gets married at 26 years
- 85% of Americans get married
- The 3 contributors to a lasting marriage: Education, Stable Family, and Income

I could write an essay for each of the bullets above, but tonight is not the time.

Here is a link to the article summarizing the segment: Un-tying the Knot .

... and one more thing, Happy (early) Valentine's Day to everyone. It is not just a holiday for just one significant other, it is for family and the dearest friends also.

Footaction

I am ready to talk about it now. I wanted to chew on it before saying anything, but it has been two weeks since it has happened. I got my first pedicure.

After years of declining all invitations to get a pedicure, I was cornered by my two best friends in unfamiliar territory (Dallas, TX). I had a choice to continue to be stubborn, decline again, and ruin the flow of conversation or experience another first in my life and make peace with my friends. I caved in and decided to temporarily tuck away my conflicted feelings and reasons for past declines.

My primary fear from having a pedicure is forming a habit from the experience. I decided before embarking into this point-of-no-return, I would only have another pedicure under very special circumstances (such as celebrating becoming a multi-millionaire) or simply never having another pedicure at all.

Overall, the experience was extremely relaxing. It was more than getting my toe nails painted, as I expected. It was a massage and spa treatment for my lower legs and feet.

I am still mulling over how I feel about pedicures now. I had a tough time telling my family I got one. There was no hiding it. It was obvious. They know I lack the skills and equipment to do such a good job on my toes. It is not that I am seeking their approval, but it is a feeling of guilt. I still feel uneasy about spending money on little luxuries, such as pedicures, knowing my parents work so hard for their paychecks and still support the family. I doubt they are concerned about this, but this train of thought helps me budget. Alas, I digress.

I admit, I have enjoyed staring at my toes for the past two weeks. Pretty toes make shoe shopping more fun and dangerous too. Nearly all open toed shoes or sandals look great. I have captured this moment of indulgence with a new pair of sandals I got this weekend. Now, I can stare at my pretty toes anytime I want.

An Unrecognizable Face

I still Facebook. In fact, I mySpace too. Between updating profiles, I blog. The point of this entry is not all the time I spend online, but how these social networks have evolved, particularly Facebook.

I had referenced in a past entry that entering mySpace has the same sensation as entering a casino with its flashing lights and sounds. Entering Facebook now is similar to entering a bar for the first time. It's familiar, but distinctly different because something is always changing, whether it be the people or the drink specials. Facebook still has the same feel, but the web network has gone add-on crazy. A new invitation to join a Fight Club team or a request to participate in the Oregon Trail has left me confused every time I log onto my homepage. I don't know what will happen once I join, but I bet I'll have a difficult time removing it from my profile page.

I also have not figured out when I receive a mass invite, request, or message- so I can ignore it. Can a true friend really not send a personal message that takes 2 minutes? Mass-texter-haters, and you know who you are, this is your worst nightmare. I've warmed up to the idea of mass phone text messages. There are situations where that is appropriate, but to dedicate a song to all of your 150 Facebook friends is a bit impersonal.

Despite the changes, I am still a huge Facebook fan. It has given me every reason to not attend my high school reunion. I know exactly what everyone is already doing.

I now leave you with a mySpace comic a friend sent to me.

In My Defense

We are all selfish. We are all selfless. It is all human nature.

My generation has been deemed the 'i' generation. Thanks to Apple, everyone is proud to say it too. The media has been pushing stories on the influences of product personalization and specialization on young people's ideology. The media blames business advertising, such as Burger King, who campaigns to "have it your way" as messages promoting self-centeredness. I call it customer service at a fast food joint, which is fantastic. The booming economy of convenience is a source of distractions people must deal with today. It is easy to be swept away with all these desires for more and more personal conveniences. This does not make a generation selfish. That's just how the world works now.

People, regardless of age, all want the best for themselves.