To hell and back

Dear Jason, Erin and Becky (my 3 beloved readers),

I am so lucky to have all 3 of you, and I am of course so sorry that I did not give you all proper time to comment on my post, though Becky is still the only one that gave suggestions, so you guys should both stop your whining and get to work. Anyway, right now I am freezing, literally shivering, so it makes it hard for me to think. I can't really complain either because my a/c at work had been broken, and it had been really hot, so I am trying to enjoy the temperature. I don't understand why the only two options are 40 degrees or 90 degrees, why can't we find a happy medium. Besides being freezing I am in a surprisingly good mood today, I really can't say why. Maybe it is because I made my lunch today, for once, so I am feeling accomplished. I went to Trader Joe's last night, so I actually have food that I can prepare for the first time in months. I love TJ's, they have great stuff that you can't get other places, and it is actually reasonably priced, which is rare. However, the place is always a madhouse, this is to be expected, but yesterday was above and beyond anything I had witnessed there before. I was actually traumatized by the experience. Trying to get to the cheese and pizza bagels (which they didn't have anyway, ugh) was one of those experiences that I cannot discuss because I have already repressed the memories as a defense mechanism, our brains need to protect us from experiences like that. Anyway, in the end it was worth it because I have things to make for lunch, and stuff like that, yay!

Maybe I will write more later...

Love,
Deb

A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for Dukie

Today is a day I don't really feel like blogging, but will anyway because I have been pretty delinquent of late. I think I have lost a large chuck of readership, and may be down to the original 3 (Jason, you still with us?). I felt like both Becky and Erin wrote entertaining blogs today, so I should comment. I am no longer going to post the link to their posts directly because I don't feel like doing this, but the links to their blogs are on the side bar. Obviously Becky and Erin know the links, so Jason, if you are still with us that was for you.

Now as per usual with Becky's post there is something ridiculous that makes me not able to pay attention the the rest, in today's entry it was her saying that making coffee for people at work was her craft, like making a beaded bracelet craft. Becky is ridiculous, which is one of the reason I like being friends with her, and so this made me laugh, and also reminded me why I keep her around.

Now Erin is also ridiculous, she has decided to give up sugar for the month (not for lent, but because she is taking part in this crazy 30 day bet thing, see her blog for details). Erin loves sugar, just read her post about ice cream. Today's post is a gem, it is a letter to sugar. It is quite hilarious, but also sad when you realize she is not really kidding. This is a type of humor I like, tragic humor.

Like in my last post, about Dukie, I know many people might have thought I was doing it to be funny, but I really was (am) very worried for Dukie. In fact, I watched the penultimate episode again last night, and got teary-eyed again. So in case you were all wondering, I am still concerned about this situation, and will be until next Sunday when I know Dukie's fate. In which case, I may have to fling myself off a building. Or move to Baltimore and become a foster parent to children like Dukie (but kids can be kind of annoying). So, these are my friends, one considers making coffee a workday craft and one writes letters to sugar. But then again, I spend a lot of time talking about a 15 year old fictional television character, so who knows, maybe they are actually more normal than myself, who knows...

Fun facts are being suspended this week in honor of Dukie not having anymore fun facts.

If you live in Texas or Ohio, or know someone that does, tell them to vote for Barack Obama! I am happy to give lots of reasons, but one would be that I don't know if I can handle him losing and Dukie becoming a junkie in the same week, seriously, do you want to see a grown woman melt down (maybe you do, which is rude).

Here's a story about a girl named Kate

Check out Erin's post about Kate
Check out Becky's post about Kate

This is our first instance where Erin & Becky each wrote about the same thing, I like this idea, it is helpful to our competition because we can do a real comparison. Erin starts off at a bit of a disadvantage having only met Kate once, where as Becky has met her more than that. What I get out of both these posts is that Kate Palley is great - she seems to have a great sense of humor, her email to write about her gave me a really great laugh during a particularly crazy day. She also seems really fun to drink with (happy hour anyone?). I love Becky's lists about why she likes people, they usually have way more to do with her than the other person, but it is her blog, so I suppose this is okay. Becky and her sister seem to have a great relationship, so that is nice, it is a great thing to have a close relationship with a sibling (isn't it Jason!?). I like Erin's post on Kate because it has a picture of the rabbi from the Simpsons episode where Krusty gets Bar Mitzvahed. I enjoy this episode (Kate, I bet you do too)! I like episodes of TV that play on Jewish traditions. It makes me feel special, like I get a joke that 98% of the population doesn't, but since the 2 % that I am a part of controls the media (and money) we get special jokes all the time!

Okay, so my Dad has begun reading my blog (hi dad! leave a comments!). His response to this blog was lukewarm, to put it nicely. He wants me to write more about myself and less about Erin and Becky (I kind of already thought the blog was mostly about me), but for my Dad, I will start including a fun fact about myself as well.

Erin's fun fact: She once sang the latke song, and danced while we walked to the subway, this made me laugh.

Becky's fun fact: She draws pictures on post-its (or once she made me a chick out of post-its). This gives me something to hang my desk. She also drew me a ghetto flower.

Debbie's fun fact: I like doing tasting menus at good restaurants, the first time I did this was at a restaurant in Dublin (Jacob's Ladder, check it out), and I thought it was the coolest idea ever, I still do.

I think we are up to 7 known readers of this blog! Tell your friends, lets get it to 10!

I've made a huge mistake

Apparently my subjects didn't take my threat about commenting seriously (which is understandable because if you've met me you would know that I am not particularly scary of threatening), but needless to say I am very discouraged that they commented on one post, but then assumed all was forgiven. This situation is being monitored, and we shall see if they take the time to rectify it.

Erin's fun fact: She lives 5 blocks away from me, this is fantastic.
Becky's fun fact: She lives a little over a mile away from me, not as fantastic.

Check out Becky's post from today:
Today Becky posted about the things she likes about Erin, and while not as great a post as the one about me, I like Erin too, so I approve of this. Now, I find it fascinating what Becky looks for in friends, shoes are obviously important, as is taste in television shows, and a sense of humor. I don't really care so much about the shoes a person has, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to have a nice collection, especially if they are my size (let me know, I am a 7 1/2 or 8). Now, taste in television is definitely important because I love tv, and I like to talk about tv (I even took classes in college about tv, communications baby!), so I am with Becky, part of the reason I like her is because she likes Arrested Development, I remember her telling this to me and thinking to myself, okay, I could probably be friends with this girl (and now we are). Speaking of tv, I really wished more of my friends liked the Wire (or any, except my brother). This show is amazingly brilliant and more people should watch it, not only will it make me like/respect you more, but you will love it, for real.

I'll be back later if Erin decides to post today...

Mystery!

Check out Erin's post from today:
I related to this post, because I myself have a useless (possibly useful for some things) brain filled with every episode from the west wing and sports night (I'll happily do a reenactment for you) and countless other tv shows and Beatles trivia and other random crap. I too usually have a good memory for birthdays and names and faces. I will say I found myself a little concerned for Erin's sanity with this one, I think she is one more forgotten birthday from jumping off the cliff. Do we think her blog is being read by a couple of people she doesn't know (unlike this one that is read by 3 people, all of whom I know, and know each other) and that person left this random comment? Or maybe it is an evil friend who just knew how to push Erin's buttons (okay, so you probably think it is me now, but I didn't know about this particular button before the post, bonus point for Erin for teaching me something knew about herself). We all like a good mystery, this post will keep me coming back to her blog (as will the fact that my blog is all about reacting to her blog), I like Erin NEED to know who this person is.

Side note: I am appalled by the lack of comments on my blog, I realize only 3 people read this, but the blog is about 2 of them, you'd think they'd maybe have an opinion, points will be deducted, you are on notice.

Erin's fun fact: She doesn't wear matching socks, like ever.
Becky's fun fact: She had an internship that she likes to talk about.

Deducting points from myself

Check out Erin's post from today:
I really liked my idea for this blog, it really amuses me, but the problem is I now feel this immense pressure. I mean I blogged yesterday when only Becky posted, so in the interest of fairness I feel I need to blog today with Erin being the only one who posted. I know they both crave my commentary and approval (and I am pretty sure with my brother out of commission with the flu, they are probably the only 2 reading this, hi!). Anyway, Erin throws out a list today, and as I have previously stated, I am a huge fan of lists. While Erin should have gone to class, I am touched that her parents are so supportive of her, as long as she is honest and witty. I am trying to imagine what I would do if I had kids, and they weren't witty. I mean how boring would they be?! Would I hate them?! Okay, getting a little off track, I like the fact that in this post we learn a bit about the history of Erin - separate from her blog, I learned today while she was showing me through her year book that she was in a lot of clubs, and her high school had really random clubs (my high school was a blue ribbon school of excellence, which is why I can be so judgmental). I am really starting to bore myself with this post, I think I am going to take a point away from myself. Note to self: stop blogging when you are really tired.

So, I forgot to write fun facts yesterday, and I know my many loyal readers really look forward to this (i.e. Erin mentioned it to me in passing), I will do my best to not forget this again, I guess I should probably deduct another point from myself (I am not doing well here, meaning since I apparently decided to include myself in the points system).

Erin's Fun Fact: She owns really cool movies, like Teen Witch (but sadly not Just one of the Guys or Newsies).

Becky's Fun Fact: She prefers the white side of the black (shouldn't it be brown?) and white cookie. This either makes her racist or the perfect person to share said cookie with.

Bonus Points!

Check out Erin's post from today:
Here we have a classic Erin post, complaining about work and spending an entire paragraph gushing over boots she bought a few months ago. I have to admit, they are pretty awesome boots, and I could've used a pair on my way to work today. Erin's post is relatable to all of us (much like Seinfeld) as most of us when we get up in the morning don't want to go to work, even if we don't hate our jobs or anything, the idea of laying in bed awhile longer is almost always an appealing one. Additionally, I like the use of the word dallied, in fact, I think it should be used more. Erin will receive 1 bonus point for the use (but I will then deduct 1/2 of that for her commenting on how she thinks it is awkward).

Additional points system note: Erin will receive a bonus point for putting her post up first (I withhold the right to not always give a bonus point for this).

Problem Discovered

We are only on day 2 of my retooled blog, and already I have found a problem. Since the purpose of this blog is to comment on Erin and Becky's blogs, it means I am beholden to them on when I write. For instance, I have chosen this moment to procrastinate my work, except they are choosing other moments (or other methods of procrastination), and therefore I am left with nothing. So I will post our fun facts of the day now, and I suppose go do some work, fine!

Erin's Fun Fact: We work in the same department, the Israel Advocacy & Education Department

Becky's Fun Fact: She doesn't really have a department, but she pretends she is in one called the Executive Department

Cumulative Scoreboard*:
Erin: 8
Becky: 7 1/2

*They are each being deducted a point for not writing when it is most convenient for me.
*Going forward the scoreboard will be located on the side bar.

Fun Facts

I bet you were all thinking I would never write again, but now here I am with 2 posts in a day, making it more like an actual blog.

So, instead of boring you with bios of our dear Erin and Becky, I will provide you with a "fun" fact about each of them with every post.

Erin's Fun Fact: She loves ice cream (specifically Haagen Daaz pomegranate chip)
Becky's Fun Fact: She likes to wear headbands

Check out Erin's post from today :
I think it tells us a great deal about Erin, she has a pretty big ego, and wants everyone to know who she is. Now, since she says that this is one of her dreams, I think it makes me a great person because it shows that this blog isn't being written like so many others for selfish reasons, it is being written to make dreams come true. I like Erin's post because it makes me feel good that I am doing something for my friend.

Check out Becky's post from today:
Wow! I am a bit overwhelmed with thoughts on this one, but then I read the part about Seinfeld, and now that is all I can focus on. Seinfeld is awesome, there really isn't anything to understand. You see, it is a tv show, so the fact that you wouldn't necessarily want to be friends with these people in real life (I would, read in to it what you will) is okay, you can still laugh at all the crazy, but semi-relatable situations they get themselves into. I mean who among us hasn't poisoned our fiance with cheap wedding invitations, seriously Becky! Moving along, I do like what Becky is doing with her blog, all these lists, lists are fun, lists give us things to talk about and argue about, which I enjoy. I like that she went out on a limb and got a little controversial with her Iraq talk.

I've decided for the time being I will have an arbitrary point system that only I will understand, but as we move further along, perhaps you will see the pattern, and be able to determine what I mean.

Scoreboard:
Erin: 9
Becky: 8 1/2

State of the Blog Address

I figured I'd give blogging another try, I mean lets see if this time I can get to 3 posts before taking a 3 1/2 year break. The thing is, I feel like there are blogs out there for everything. Certainly for the things that interest me most there are more than enough to go around, politics, tv, the mets, food, you name it there is a blog about it; and I probably read it. Therefore I don't always see the point in me writing a blog, I mean what else can I say. On average I would say 85% of my conversations in a given day are me talking about something I read on a blog or reacting to something I read on a blog. This is not to say that I don't have original thoughts, I do, though usually someone else had them as well and put them in a blog, so I don't want to be redundant.

Tangent:A personal blog like this one is supposed to be like a journal, and much like this blog, I have tried to keep journals my entire life, and have a stack of them that mostly contain blank pages because I give up trying after a time. I am a person that took a journal with me on a 3 week trip to London, Amsterdam and Belgium, proceeded to not write in it once, but then came home and did a mega recap of it after the fact. This thought process doesn't make much sense to me, so i doubt it will make sense to anyone reading this (that'd be you Jason, since I know you diligently check this site once a week to see if I have gotten the urge to write, this diligence has finally been rewarded).

Anyway, with that out of the way (what that was I am not exactly sure), I will get to the new purpose of my blog, I don't believe there is another blog out there doing this, and so it seemed the only logical choice for me to make. My blog will now be about commenting on Erin and Becky's blogs (check back later to find out who Erin & Becky are). We will judge them, we will love them, we will disagree with them (and maybe even agree sometimes). Is there a point to this exercise, not really, though maybe the fact that there is a blog whose sole purpose is to comment on their blogs will change the way they write their own blogs, or maybe no one will care (likely outcome), and we will move on to blogging about things that everyone else is blogging about (Why to vote for Barack Obama, why Johan Santana is amazing, why everyone should watch the Wire, etc.). So, start placing your over/under bets on how many entries I will crank out.

To get yourself acquainted with our subjects check out:
Erin: http://erinelan.blogspot.com
Becky: http://beckysaysthat.blogspot.com

I will be back with a little info on who Erin and Becky are, and then the fun will begin.