A Little Retreat

Swap, Barter, Trade

I originally spotted this information as a brief article in USA Today. The highlight was students trading sex for favors.

Am I surprised? Not really, but somewhat. The erosion of a generation ...

Here is the full pdf of the study. It was published in Evolutionary Psychology.

Reality TV .... it's yummy!

There's a lot of reality TV on TV these days - and no, I don't believe that it is a result of the most recent writer's strike; just cheaply produced television.

I like reality TV. Mostly when there is something tangible on the line like

• American's Next Top Model
• American Idol
• Project Runway
• Top Chef
• The Apprentice

Now there is a reality TV genre called scripted reality TV. Those are shows where the material and events on the show are pretty much planned out. You'll see this on:

• Run's House
• The Hills
• Fatherhood
  

I like some of the competition reality TV shows also. The only problem is that people will do any number of things just for a dollar. But some shows that still have some integrity are:

• Amazing Race
• Survivor

Now, if you want to just waste time ... there is a reality TV show (or two) that don't require much from you, but to sit in front of the tube and stare blankly.

• Flavor of Love
• The Bachelor
• Rock of Love
• The Real World
  

And there are some others that don't do much for me, but I must admit that I've seen them - if only a segment:

• American's Next Smartest Model

Yeah, it's not the best in quality television, but it does offer some glimpse into socialization. And don't you just love the way that MTV recycles their reality TV show participants? Or the way C- and D-list actors get a second life on VH-1? And then there is Oprah's Big Give. I like the concept, but I did not like the competition factor and the bickering on that show. Not what I expected.

What reality TV shows do you like?

Check out this short video

Just checking out a new program - nice.

Keeping in Step

I am sooooo feeling myself right now. Some might think how conceited; others might think similarly as in arrogance, egotistical. But that's part of my good feeling, I am sooo unconcerned about what anyone thinks.

Like last year at about this time, I will be voluntarily out of a job in a few months. And I am okay with that. I am not on some 'find myself' mission. I've always valued happiness, but now it is top priority. I'm not seeking daily happiness; just a realistic happiness. And I enjoy the moments when I am getting more daily happiness because I just enjoy so many things. Even when things don't go so smoothly, I try to take a step back and embrace what it is. Right now it takes some effort, but I get it.

More about keeping in step. I am making inroads to my goals for this year. I am trying to get in the Spanish component - uno.

The daffs have come and gone ...

A few weeks ago a colleague gave me a bundle of daffodils. They were just buds at the time. They were a part of the American Cancer Society fundraiser.

Well, how awesome when they bloomed! They bring soooo much to the party other than themselves.

Nice to know that I can walk down the street and still enjoy my neighbors daffs; good stuff.

Incredibly Annoying Reasons Why I Can't Sleep!

The title says it all:

• elderly neighbors who can hear each other argue, but I can hear them CLEARLY! It may seem unreasonable, and uncaring but I've called the police on them more than once.
  
• upstairs neighbor who must put on her heels from the time she wakes in the morning @ 6 a.m.-ish and clip clops up and down the hall all morning until 8 a.m.-ish; am I the only one who takes off her shoes when entering the house and don't put them on until I leave the house?
• trains ... damn trains
• running water - I can actually hear the water running through the pipes in my building
• The refrigerator - love the food inside, but sometimes the drone keeps me from dreaming
  
• The sound of the heat coming and on and then turning off, coming on and then off ...
  
• The sound of the helicopter landing at the hospital across the street

This girl is mad and sleep deprived ... ask me when I'm moving? In a few weeks ... the countdown is on.

Playing w/technology

Here's a video - a slide show really - that I created using the editing software from my digital camera; a Canon 570IS.

The Summer Calendar ...

Well, if you are like me, then your summer calendar is filling up already. The wedding dates have been set and that means at least a bridal shower and a wedding. Or maybe for you it's a bachelor party. Let the good times roll.

There is graduation. Oh, graduation. I have to say it again, graduation! So many of them. Which ones will I actually attend. I don't have any relatives graduating this year, so it's fair game on whose graduation I will end up attending. At any rate, congrats to all!

Then there is vacation. I think I will go back to the left coast. I'm going to try to get that in early like in June.

There are some craft events that I'd like to attend and some long weekend options. It's exciting to think about all of the activity! Indeed, good times are on the horizon.