As I watch the debate I just have to say a few things… a snippet if you will of my liberal rant to come-

- Palin staring at the camera trying to “address” the American people. It’s all tactic. Joe Biden had nothing to prove and spoke directly to the moderator. I appreciate that. He had nothing to hide while Palin was all about the fake “I’m right there with ya” just look at my hockey mom haircut, and Tina Fey glasses. 

- How do we win a war? Honestly? Some might say that it’s when Iraq can govern itself in a Democratic fashion. But is it? This is a country that has never been politically sound. We can impose our imperialistic beliefs on a country all we want, but that won’t make them politically sound. Is it bad to say- sure we went in for a good reason but now it’s time to leave a losing battle? I call that responsible and taking accountability for actions. 

- Ummmmmmmmm (long pause)

- Dear Sarah Palin, you aren’t in Alaska anymore. Stop talking about it. I understand that your experience is limited to 2 years as a governor of a tiny as shit town but you’re on the national stage now. Get some speech lessons and stop speaking to people like they are 5 years old, “you betcha!” “Goshdoggit.” 

- If I hear the word “maverick” one more time- I’m going puke. Biden has done an excellent job of rebutting everything Palin has said. 

- I want to like Palin. I wish I liked her. But she’s just so irritating. I understand the appeal she could have… the THOUGHT of her is nice- a middle class, hockey mom, lots of kids, she’s good looking, she speaks around the questions well, and she does have a nice quality where she seems like she’s trying to talk directly to the mom and women- but if you actually listen to what she says she doesn’t actually say ANYTHING! 

- Biden brought up his family. And how his wife and daughter died. That felt actually sincere. Especially compared to the rehearsed “mom talk” of Sarah Palin. She uses her family as a crutch AND as a platform. What a crock of shit. She tries so hard to have the appeal of the mom thing. 

Now more than ever I am completely 100% sure of my vote next month. Obama/Biden ‘08!!!! Though I am still secretly hoping Hillary will get a chance at VP spot last minute. A girl can hope right? 

I shall quote Any Poehler, when I say, “I invite the media to grow a pair. And if you can’t, I will lend you mine.” You betcha! 

I hate being told, “You have great potential.” That’s basically like saying, “well currently you suck, but I see you possibly succeeding at a later date.” I never take this comment personally because I know that it’s always said with the nicest of intentions, but still it almost without a doubt solicits an eye roll from me.

A lot of people “have potential.” That doesn’t mean they will actually amount to anything. One slip up and the potential is gone, everything you worked for is dashed. The “it’s not fair policy” is practically jammed down our throats as unassuming children and we learn that potential, though good, won’t get you crap. Potential only works when all the factors come together just so and then it can be realized for something substantial? The only people that I’ve see this work for are people, in my opinion, who don’t really deserve it. And to back this statement up I offer ONE of my personal examples out of my ”Life Isn’t Fair” vault.

Personal Anecdote: When I was in my junior year of college- I busted my ass to study for my LSAT’s in preparation for law school. I took a Princeton Review prep class for months, did the homework, took the practice tests. I was told by many people, “you have great lawyer potential.” Test day came around- I was completely prepared. Until I got my scores back… and though not terribly catastrophic… I’m clearly not a lawyer today. You can draw your own conclusion there, but let me add though that I’m not a total failure, I actually didn’t end up applying to law school anyway because I decided it just wasn’t for me. But anyway, had I kicked that test’s ass, things might have turned out differently.
On the flip side, I’ve seen people not do crap and practically walk their way into law school. That’s infuriating. They don’t care, they don’t have a passion, but they happen to test well.

I’ve been told I’m entirely too cynical for a 23 year old. To which I respond- well, duh… but I’ve got great potential to be an optimist! Too bad those factors didn’t fall into place…

Anyone else have a good old “life isn’t fair” gripe you’d like to throw in? Here’s your chance to rant about that high school spite that you’ve never quite ridded yourself of… so let me hear it!

Now, I’m all for using the wonderful Internet for just about everything. I love finding new ways to do things that are faster and more efficient. One of my favorite things is Craigslist. Boyfriend and I bought our practically new washer and dryer for a great price from a grad student trying to get rid of her extra set. I have looked for apartments, roommates, grills, concert tickets, dogs, just about anything you can think of. It’s like a huge, easily navigated garage sale. But then of course there are ways to abuse the nice and friendly system… 

So a good friend of mine caught her now ex-fiance trolling for some “affection” via my beloved Craigslist and that was about the last straw in a slew of lies and bullshit, so she ended it. A few days later on my daily scour through the interesting articles on AOL, I come across this post. So in the best friend spirit, I immediately email it to my friend. I figure- if her ex-boyfriend can solicit a random hookup on Craigslist- then why can’t she use Craigslist to hire a hitman? I kid, I kid!! But seriously… a hitman!?!?!?!

These hitmen even offer guarantees- job accomplished in 10 days or less and won’t charge until job is done. Wow, how professional! 

(Don’t worry… after a short time of consideration, my friend did not hire a hitman. She did email the article to a-hole ex-fiance… just as a warning.)

We’re all annoying to someone. It’s a fact. I’m annoying, I know it. I have a problem running my mouth. Sometimes I can get catty, snappy, and a little gossipy. Wow I’m making myself sound just lovely. But everyone also has very nice qualities that help redeem them when you are on your last limb ready to claw someone’s eyes for the annoying qualities. 

I have always been very irritable when it comes to noises. Especially not loud noises, but the muted kinds of noises that everyone else is seems to be so oblivious to but me! Pen clicking, gum snapping, pencil tapping, nail drumming, you get the point. I’m always told to just ignore it, but at work sometimes it’s really difficult. Then I read this article and it made me feel so much better! I’m not the only one!!! I wanted to jump for joy and scream from the roof tops that I’m not some paranoid schizophrenic about to launch myself over the cubicles at a coffee slurper thinking they have devised some conspiracy to annoy me and only me. (then again…..)

But going back to my first point- I am also annoying. I am making a better attempt to stop some of these bad habits. With just a small change in trying to be a bit more positive, I’m already seeing results. 

So if you don’t want to read the full article, here are some highlights from the data poll they conducted-
20% of people say their coworkers have at least one habit that drives them nuts
15% of coworkers hate constant complaining from other coworkers 
13% of coworkers are driven nuts by work being passed off to others  Other annoying habits include gossip, talking too much, eating smelly food, and coworkers not showering enough (ewwww).

Your best bet is to confront the coworker and ask them nicely to stop. Can be uncomfortable, but could ultimately save your sanity! 

Now it’s time for some stories… tell me about the annoying habits of your coworkers that drive you nuts!! 

I waited and waited for the release of the iPhone 3G. Might I say totally worth it. The applications I downloaded for free let me Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace  and any other social media noun that we can now turn into a verb. I used the GPS to locate every pet store for the barking peeing dog in the entire Greater Columbus area in about 10 seconds. I even use it to check any one of my hundred social media profiles all while sitting in front of a perfectly usable computer. I choose to use the iPhone over the computer for a few reasons-

1. I don’t smoke- so I get no smoke breaks. I take social media breaks. However, the second I’m not doing something directly related to work on my computer, I get busted. Someone, without fail, comes up behind me and busts me for not being on task. Even though, I really don’t look that often, I just get caught every damn time. So now, wonderful technology, I can check my profiles without using my computer and therefore without getting busted. 

2. It’s fun! Having an iPhone is like having anything large (insert your own term here). It’s a status symbol, if you will. When you have one, you have no problem whipping it out (hehe). It’s like driving a brand new BMW into a country club- you’re recognized, accepted, you’re one of them. This phone makes me one of them. Motorola Razr be damned!! 

3. Because I can. I waited in line for 7 hours total AND got in trouble for unintentionally missing a half day of work to stand there, stagnant, amongst the chaos of the iPocolyspe. Then after cutting my losses to still get some work done that day and save face, I had to go BACK to the line at 5:30 and wait until 8:30 to finally walk out of the store with the coveted 16 gig wonder. 

4. I finally have a reason in any conversation to say, “Oh just one second, let me check me schedule… (important dignified pause)… no I’m sorry, I have a meeting at that time. How about Tuesday at 1:00? Great, see you then.” 

5. Sometimes it’s fun to be just a tad bit pretentious. Usually I’m not that person at all. But this phone puts me at a new level. (It’s actually in my own head… but I don’t care.) I spent the last year feeling like a guppy amongst a sea of sharks. And though I still am technically, carrying this 6 inch makes me feel just a little more powerful, and makes me think that I might actually know what I’m talking about, which I’ve learned is really half the battle. 

Now if you’ll excuse me… I have some important emails to check… on my iPhone, while I sit at my perfectly capable iMac. (refer to bullet point 2.)