Reality is... depressing

Reality, yeah, sometimes life

Ain't all that it's cracked up to be

So let's take a chance and live this fantasy

'Cause everybody needs to break free from reality

These lyrics have been rolling around in my head for the past few days because I could certainly use a break from reality.

I've been quiet here because I'm feeling like if I don't have anything nice to say I just shouldn't say anything at all. Of course, if I keep that up there's no point in having this space, as I don't see much nice coming up any time soon.

Everywhere I look these days I just see more and more negativity and sadness and people being rude or mean or flat out hateful.

It's rampant in politics, which drives me nut. And drives me to alternate between paying attention because I really do care and want to and being so disgusted I end up yelling at the tv while watching news coverage. I'm a shades of gray person. I think of myself as liberal, but any political quiz I take labels me moderate. I think people, for the most part, are genuinely good and well intentioned. Yes, politicians included. I think (again, for the most part) they are truly fighting for what they believe is the right thing to do. I can respect that, even when I don't agree with their views. But what I can't respect is that we've lost the ability to compromise. To empathize.

There's so much partisanship and rhetoric it's hard to understand what's really happening and what the true intent is behind actions. It's hard to even find information that doesn't have a spin to it. It's really sad.

But what's worse, and even more surprising is that this mean, negative, hateful attitude seems to be becoming more and more pervasive in other places.

A few weeks ago I saw a "fan" lash out at one of my favorite musician's on Facebook because he was trying to raise funds to do a world tour via Kickstarter, a super common platform for creative funding. This woman was mean and hurtful, all because she didn't take the time to read the very clear description of the project and just jumped to conclusions, and attack.

I was at the cafe at Barnes and Noble over the weekend and some patrons a few tables over caught my attention. I missed the beginning of the argument, but it seemed that there was some confusion over who was holding some seats and a father with his young son thought he had a seat saved, but a group of four elderly people ended up there instead. The father argued with the elderly man, raising his voice to attract the attention of most of the cafe before storming away. Moments later he walked back through and very loudly called the older man a very bad word. Seriously?!? It is really worth getting that worked up over? And is that really the kind of example you want to set for a child?

A friend was telling me about a blog where parents from her daughter's child care center are sharing concerns. What started as concerns about the center's operation turned into parents lashing out at each other over their parenting skills and values.

This world we live in isn't easy. And I know that I'm fortunate and that the problems I face really are of the first world variety but still, all of this negativity just makes it harder. On everyone.

The old throwback cliche comes to mind, but it's cliche because it's true.

Why can't we all just get along?

Music Monday - A Birthday Edition

The next two Music Mondays are dedicated to a very special birthday girl, whose big day falls on a Thursday this year.

That's right, March 1 is my cousin Samantha's birthday. She LOVES her birthday and there is typically a countdown leading up to it and celebrations for the entire month. This week's song is Trendy, by Reel Big Fish. It popped into my head a few weeks ago and I was about to post it when I remembered it's role in one of those birthday celebrations of the past.

My sophomore year in college, when Sam was in 9th grade, I took her and some of her friends to see Reel Big Fish at the 9:30 Club in DC as her birthday present. One of my friends came too and we all piled into my aunt's mini van for the drive from Baltimore into not the best neighborhood in DC. I was a bit on the overprotective side (shocking, I know) and I made the girls stay in the balcony with me instead of joining the mosh pit on the ground floor. We all still had a blast!

Happy Almost Birthday Sam!

Music Monday

I love songs that can just turn your mood around with the first beat. I'm not one to dance often, but this one, well... it has me jumping around and singing along whenever I hear it.

So, let's rock out a bit this Monday Morning and start the week right, shall we?

Solitude and Frustrations

I had a solitary weekend.

I spent it reading, running errands and catching up on the backlog of dvr'd shows I've accumulated. I could have used more sleep, it was repeatedly interrupted by an annoying alarm in my building thanks to an errant cat (long story...), but otherwise the weekend was a good one, a much needed break from the stress of last week.

Unfortunately I'm ending on a crappy note thanks to my sudden hatred of my entire wardrobe. I'm trying to pack for a work trip and... I hate my clothes. All of them.

Things I wore last week, items I consider favorites, all of them are now invoking "yuck", "ick" and "hell no" as I consider adding them to my suitcase.

What the hell?

I don't really have time for this. I've got some new options in the washing machine right now and then I think I'm just throwing them in the suitcase. Once I get there it won't matter if I liked what I packed or not, I'll just have to suck it up and deal with what I have.

*sigh*

I hate it so much when I'm that girl.

Ramblings

I finished the Hunger Games series earlier this week. I didn't like them but found them addictive nonetheless. I read the first over two or three days, read back to back Vince Flynn books and then went back for the second. I started the third immediately after finishing the second and wrapped it up within 24 hours.

It was too long, yet rushed at the same time. It was too violent and depressing to be 'young adult' fiction. I know kids are aware of all of the complex and very grown up concepts that are covered in the book, but... well, why encourage it with a book like this?

So yeah, if you haven't read them I wouldn't recommend them. But, I think I'm in the minority with that opinion.

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Speaking of reading, I'm 1/4 of the way there to meeting my goal of reading 80 books for the year. Yup, I've read 20 books already, in the first 6 weeks of 2012. Unfortunately, my competitor has read 21. I've managed to tie her a few times thus far. That typically lasts about 12 hours.

If you have book suggestions for me, I'm open to them. Just no more of the dystopian variety.

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I got a Facebook friend request from a friend's mom yesterday. The only problem is her son stopped being my friend about three years ago. I have no clue why, but he did. I'm guessing she doesn't know why either. Well, I'm guessing she doesn't even know at all.

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I've been trying to pay more attention to politics lately as there are a lot of crazy things going on in the world these days. But wow, it's just so incredibly frustrating. I want to write more about this but I'm not in the mindset to do it at the moment. So for now, yay Maryland for moving in the right direction to allow gay marriage. And boo Virginia for moving in the direction of limiting women's rights.

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And finally, if you had a good week, please let me know. Because just about everyone I know - both near and far - considered this week to be especially sucky. So if your week was good, I'm really happy for you. And I hope you'll share some of that 'good' with me for next week.

Shape of Us

I'm sure music has played a role in tv shows since there has been tv shows, but that role has certainly grown with the internet.

It's easier to find unsigned artists and bring attention to them, just by featuring their song on a hit tv show. What a cool job those production guys and gals have who get to suggest their favorite songs to be in shows. Or even better, just get to sit around all day listening to new music to find things that are a perfect fit for that dramatic moment in an episode.

Since I don't get to be the selecter of the music, I just have to get excited when I'm watching a favorite show and all of the sudden the music catches my attention. Usually it's the lyrics that get me. And I love that with the google it is so easy to just type in a phrase and in an instant have the song all for myself.

In this case, the tv show was Tuesday night's Parenthood that I just caught up on thanks to my beloved DVR. And the song is called Shape of Us by Ian Britt.

And in the meantime my (few) dear readers, I'm feeling kind and generous (as was Mr. Britt) and I've snagged the song from his website where he made it oh-so-easily sharable. The best part of his sharing - I had my options of size for the embedded link, labeled as Venti, Grande, Tall and Short.

Good voice, lovely lyrics and a Starbucks reference to boot... yes, Ian Britt has found himself a new fan!

Enjoy!

Music Monday

My musical choice on this fairly icky Monday is a nice, sweet current country hit.

And now I'm off to own my night, by curling up on the sofa with a good book and a music filled evening of The Voice, followed by Smash.