A Whole New World

This morning, bored out of my goard (I can't believe I just said that), I started cruising blogs. I typed in a topic on the blog search engine and read the first blog that came up. From there I just clicked on the "next" button and kept going. Sometimes if I found a blog interesting, I clicked on one of it's links and read this writer's other interest or blogs that he/she liked.

It's interesting the amount of information, the political views, personal diaries that are out there. Some people talk about their sex lives (in graphic detail: I landed on this one man's blog who wrote about a one night stand he had), while others talk about their daily lives (one woman literally wrote out her itinerary from washing her face in the morning to a dialouge she had with her boss). Some people put TOO MUCH information into their posts that the only thing I can commment or say is "what an interesting story". Why do people put too much information?

I guess many blogs are a release of emotions for some. For me, it started out as a mass letter for all my friends to read. And by writing the blog, I've picked up many more friends throughout the 2 years I've been writing it. I've even sent postcards or personally emailed some of the people I've met along the way. And I met one of them in person. Blogging has become a new way to enlarge my social circle.

But really, some of the blogs (well one in particular) share too much information. I don't know why I read some of them completely through. Maybe it was like an accident that you slow down to look at, or like that old documentary "Faces of Death" that you rent because you just have to see. But like a real social circle you can ignore or never call on those blogs again. I agree with a person's right to express themselves and they should have the freedom to say it, but I don't have to agree. And luckily I can just shut the page down and read another blog.

I'm glad that someone thought up the wonder that is blogging. It really is a whole new world.

A Meme

I got this meme from Chloe at Froth on the Daydream

ARE YOU:
1. A Cuddler? Not really. I have a problem with personal space. The only ones who can invade it without making me ansy are my nephews and nieces. Children don't understand personal space. And my nephews and nieces are great with the hugs.

2. A morning person? Yes I am. I didn't use to be.

3. Are you a perfectionist? I'm anal retentive and can be high strung when it comes to the way I believe things should be.

4. An only child? Nope. I have siblings.

5. Catholic: Yes and practicing.

6. In your pajamas? Nope. I'm wearing a light sweater, jeans and Birkenstocks.

7. Currently suffering from a broken heart? Nope. It was broken a few years ago, but has since mended.

8. Okay styling other people's hair? Nope--that's invasion of their space.

9. Left handed? Nope.

10. Addicted to MySpace? Not really.

11. Shy around the opposite gender? Nope.

12. Loud? Yes

DO YOU:
12. Bite your nails? Nope.

13. Get paranoid at times? Depends.

14. Currently regret something that you have said/done? All the time.

15. Curse frequently when you get mad? Yup

16. Enjoy country music? My iPod is about 90% country. I a little bit country and I'm a little bit Hip Hop.

17. Enjoy jazz music? Yes, I do.

18. Enjoy smoothies? Nope.

19. Enjoy talking on the phone? Yes, if I've got my bluetooth piece with me.

20. Have a lot to learn? Everyone can learn something new.

21. Have a pet? Nope our family dog passed away in the early nineties.

22. Have a tendency to fall for the "wrong" person? Nope

23. Have all your grandparents died? Nope. My grandfather is still alive, living along the waters of Top Sail Island in North Carolina and just celebrated his 94th birthday.

24. Have at least one sibling? Yes.

25. Have been told that you are smart? Yes.

26. Have had a broken bone? Nope

27. Have Caller I.D. on your phone? Yes

HAVE YOU:
28. Changed a diaper? Yes.
29. Changed a lot over the past year? I think so.
30. Had friends who have never seen your natural hair color? I don't dye my hair.
31. Had surgery? Yes
32. Killed anyone? Never.
33. Had your haircut within the last week? Two weeks ago.

LAST PERSON WHO:
1. Slept in the bed beside you? It's been awhile.
2. Saw you cry?: Haven't cried in awhile either.
3. Went to the movies with you? It was a group of friends.
4. You went to the mall with?: My family.
5. You went to dinner with? A bunch of friends from the past--Maria, Rene, Malou, Cathy, Ted, and Joe.
6. You talked to on the phone? Susan C.
7. Said 'I love you' to you and meant it? I said it to my nephew Xavier, who was thanking me for finding his Halloween costume.
8. Broke your heart? Rosegene
9. Made you laugh? Pinky

WOULD YOU RATHER?
1. Pierce your nose or tongue? No piercings, my ear was the biggest mistake I made--one drunken night in undergrad.
2. Be serious or be funny? Funny.
3. Drink whole or skim milk? Either.
4. Die in a fire or drown? Drown.
5. Spend time with your parents or enemies? Parents of course.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

At my parent's summer home, they've got quite a varitable orchard going on in their backyard. They have several fruit trees growing and the fruit has started to bloom. Since I'm down here using it for peace and quiet to study, I get to see this fruit grow.

One of my friends who lives outside of St. Petersburg came down to visit. She was taking a break from studying (she is taking the Step 1 exam in a couple weeks--wish her luck). When I told her of the various fruits that were growing and that I was more of a Doritoes and KFC hunter/gatherer, she asked if she could gather this fruit. We went to the backyard and started picking guavas for her to take home. I reached my hand into the tree to get a pretty good sized guava when Maria screamed. I looked to see what she was screaming at and then screamed like a woman myself. On the guava I had just picked was the Geiko lizard. It's big bulging eyes staring at me. I dropped the fruit, did a "get that thing off me" dance in the middle of my yard--much to the amusement of my neighbors and Maria.

I don't know where these lizards come from, but they seem to be all over the place. They are sometimes seen on the side of the house and around the pool. They gross me out with their bulging eyes and skinny bodies. Eeek!! Spiders, I'm not afriad of, but those things will make jump onto to a chair faster than a step aerobics instructor can (by the way, is step aerobics still a fad).

Yo-De-Le-He-Hoo

I was stuck on the treadmill and too lazy to stop my exercise (there's a juxtaposition huh) to change the channel. And it's not like I minded that the channel was on Megan Mullally's new talk show. I loved her as drunken-pill popping modern Valley of the Dolls Karen Walker on Will and Grace. In fact I loved the banter/adventures of Karen and Jack and felt the show should be called "Jack and Karen".

Anyway, since I was pretty much done with the gym provided magazine Jane,there was absolutely nothing to read between the front and back cover, I watched her talk show. She had a variety of guests--from a Desperate housewife to some zookeeper that brought in animals. Why do they always bring in a snake? I've never seen a talkshow with zookeeper guests, who didn't bring in snakes. Anyhoo, one special guest was the champion yodler or yeller or something like that from his hometown. He wowed or embarassed himself (whichever way you looked at it) on national television. This man yoddled for everyone, teaching us how to call for help or when thirsty. I don't know about most people, but when I'm thirsty I fetch my own water gosh darnit!! Was this man really that proud of his "talent" and yes it's in quotes, cause is it really a talent?

The things people will do for their five minutes of fame. In his case--3 minutes. It was somewhat extended cause I just wrote a post about it.

Friendship Age Like Wine

I was thinking about a party that my parents had awhile ago. Every now and then my parents throw a party (for whatever occasion). The last ones to go are usually relatives and medical school pals.

As the party begins to wind down, my father usually starts tinkling with the piano keys until music begins to float out into air. I have posted before how my father is very talented on the keyboard and can often play any song by request. At this point their friends gather round him and begin to sing along. Their voices which use to embarass me as a teenager now calms me or makes me smile. This singing can continue for several hours past twilight. The music starts out robust (with glasses of scotch or wine clinking to the start of favorite songs) and then mellows as the moon shifts it's position over the singers.

I like the fact that they have several sets of friends who have been around for years. There are several families which we've spent every holiday since the 70's with. These are the people who stay around till the sunrises, chatting happily around the dining table or around the baby grand. They are the same families that have been there for our births and also the births of grandchildren. They are the first to applaud at graduations and weddings and the last guest to leave a celebration.

I've made my own friends outside this inner circle. But I thank God every day for this inner structure which helped me to base the criteria for which I've set my own standards for friendship.

I Can't Pick You For My Team

I didn't watch the controversial "Survivor" show tonight.

I am still wondering how the idea got pass the boardroom. I'm wondering what they are trying to prove, or if there is a virtue that is to be gotten out of creating teams based on race.

What did you guys think of this season's "Survivor" format?

I'm Back!!!

It's not like I was gone for a long period of time. I do feel somewhat isolated because I haven't been checking blogs on a daily basis. I've been up to my goiter in endocrinology. Tough topic and confusing to boot. My friend Simi told me I should focus on cardiology because it tends to be a favorite on board exams. I took a nibble out of the cardio chapter tonight (with Family Guy playing in the background).

I know I said I was going to write about the tropical storm Ernesto experience. But I've all but forgotten about it. I know I was somewhat whiny and whimpery when my Aunt's house was shaking due to high winds. I also remembering screaming like a girl when the electricity flickered--that was cause it interupted the U.S. Open broadcast. And of course I was thinking DAMN when I saw some of the boat dock underwater (by just a few inches. It wasn't buried like Atlantis). However, for the most part, I've forgotten what I wanted to say about the whole first time experience.

I've even forgotten what I wanted to say in this post. I know I did have something significant to say, but somewhere between my cardio book and this keyboard, it got lost in my vast wasteland of knowledge. My brain is mush and if anyone could hear me right now, I would sound like I drank a gallon of Glenlivet.

Rested and Relaxed

I don't even think that the title of this post constitutes proper grammar, but it's how I feel right now. I didn't relax too much. I spent a lot of time doing some light reading, but I also got to throw in a novel and some bonding with my cousins.

My cousin Matt brought his college buddies with him and they had lots of fun playing beer drinking games. I got quite a collection of pictures for future bribery.

Here's a picture, taken from the second story balcony of my Aunt's home. In the background you can see the ocean. The small strip of land (island) is the only barracade separating them from the open sea. My uncle and aunt bought this property in the early 80's (or 70's)-I wrote about the renovations in an earlier post. They said over the years, more homes have been built and they are afraid that in the near future, so many homes will be built that it will eventually obstruct their view.

I'm a little tired right now. I'm getting ready to go to bed, I've got a long drive tomorrow. I will write about tropical storm Ernesto scaring me (when I arrived on Thursday).