Everyone should fall in love and have babies

Everyone should fall in love and have babies, it’s a fact-it’s my fact.

My friends often make fun of me because my question to them after meeting a potential boyfriend/girlfriend for the first time is always, “Are you in love??” “Are you going to get married and have babies??”

Recently, more than ever, I’ve discovered how truly fabulous it is to fall in love- really fall, heard first, in love.  A few weeks ago, I witnessed a new guy walk into my friend’s life-I mean he literally walked right up to her at the bar in epic form. I teased her that it was like watching a movie.  A group of us girls were dancing in a circle—music blaring, arms in the air, drink in hand, life a la mode.  Out of nowhere, a guy from the other side of the bar starts to slowly make his way to our end.  It was as if the whole bar went blurry except for my friend standing in the middle of us. He was a man on a mission, desperately setting out to beat everyone to the finish line and claim his prize. And then he arrived, looked right into her eyes and said, “Can I buy you drink?” We all watched him whisk her away in awe. And then they fell in love, naturally. (I’m currently planning the wedding).

But it was her reaction, her bubbly and giddy attitude that made me smile and think. It’s amazing how one person can alter your life and change your way of thinking. One day you’re strangers, the next you’re setting a date. I see it every day. I see my parents in love for almost 30 years. I see my sister’s in love and happily married. I see strangers in the mall, grocery store, movies, in love. And they all have that same look on their faces, the dazzled look that tells you that they don’t know how they got so lucky to have met their soulmate.

Not only do I see it everywhere, I live it. Before I met my boyfriend, Jon, I was a bitter girl jaded by past relationships, who hated everyone and their stupid love story. It’s not real, it won’t last, I hate them, I thought often. I was convinced that “my one” had gotten run over by a bus on his way to me, and I was SOL.  Jon didn’t walk into my life as dramatically as my friend’s future husband did, and he didn’t magically turn my life into rainbows and butterflies. But he does make me want to be a better person—to be a little less Debbie downer and more of a little Mary sunshine.  I think it’s because I see the best version of myself when I’m around him—like an HDTV version that kicks regular T.V’s butt. Or maybe it’s because he’s the only one who thinks I’m funny. I haven’t decided yet.

Sometimes it’s easy to give up on finding love because no one seems good enough; no one seems to fit right with you.  But to find it, to find your partner in life who doesn’t care what you look like after getting two hours of sleep, doesn’t judge you for eating your feelings on a bad day, and doesn’t mind that it takes you 10 times before you get the joke —is worth taking a shot at. Fall in love.  Fall hard. And have some babies. 

A new era: "Just facebook me"

Click. Post. Like. Comment. Poke. Repeat.

     It has come to my attention that just about everyone has a facebook. Seriously, search for your mom and you will probably find her facebook page. And beware if you don’t have one, because if you don’t, you are likely to be considered “weird.”
    
     Yes I will admit it, I am a facebook addict and should probably look into rehab—but there is one question that continues to boggle my mind on a regular basis: What is it that attracts so many people to facebook anyway? People spend half of their day updating their status, posting comments on friend walls, and uploading pictures to put up on facebook.  The other half of the day is spent talking about facebook, “Today on my newsfeed…” is a popular one, or my favorite, “Did you see that her relationship status says single now?”   What is the purpose? Are we that interested in other people’s lives? Or is it the thrill of receiving a notification, “Sally posted on your wall”, or, “Sally likes your status.” Perhaps facebook gives people the social acceptance they are anxiously seeking.
    
     Whatever it is, I hate Mark Zuckerburg, the founder of facebook, for figuring it out. I mean, the man is literally set for life. He makes people who are jobless after going through 4 years of college wonder, “What am I doing wrong??” Bastard, I mean, Zuckerburg, who was a sophomore at Harvard (figures) at the time, originally intended for membership to be limited to Harvard students. Soon however, it expanded to include anyone older than 12, and is now the most popular social networking site in the (freaking) world.  In 2010, the company announced that it was serving-- brace yourself…500 million users around the world. I don’t think my brain even has the capacity of imagining that many people. And it’s not only people either; lately I’ve found that everywhere I go-- restaurant, library, grocery store, and school, I’m being told to “check us out on facebook.” Popular businesses, companies, and even schools have begun to create facebook pages in order to reach out to their customers and students.

      Because of its rapid popularity, facebook is now slowly overtaking the lives of countless people, young to old, and destroying the nature of social communication. Instead of initiating conversations with others, we are now sending friend requests in its place. Whatever happened to the days of email, letters, or dun dun dun…a call on the telephone?
    
     And now it’s not just friendships, many relationships have formed through facebook as well (How…romantic?). But in retrospect, why shouldn’t they? Facebook makes it all too easy. I mean, why go on a date when you can just get to know each other through Facebook’s newest addition, “Facebook chat”, becoming closer with each “Haha” , “LOL” , and smiley face. And why call your partner when you can just leave a romantic post on their wall for the world to see?  Just accept it, your relationship just doesn’t mean much unless it’s Facebook, “In a relationship” official. The extreme informality between people these days is concerning and arguably a little sad. Now, the opportunity to dodge an actual physical face to face conversation with another human being is particularly doable.  “Just Facebook me” was a recent pick up line I heard not too long ago, I just shook my head and wondered what had become of the world.  
         
     Facebook is a way in which you can let others know what is going on in your daily life. And for some, every second of your daily life. Example, “Sally Joe is taking a shower.” Two minutes later: “Sally Joe just got out of the shower.” Three minutes later, “Sally Joe is watching a movie.” Does anyone really care?? Regardless, facebook is proven to lead to jealousy and competition (and is that secretly what our goal is in the first place—make everyone jealous that our lives are better than the rest?).  And by proven, I mean me. The real issue is how much of what a person is writing and posting on facebook is consistent to what their actually doing.  Their status can read, “Having the time of my life!” when in actuality, they are sitting at home doing essentially nothing at all.  Likewise, there is really no way of telling how accurate a person’s Facebook pictures are under an album entitled “Best Weekend Ever!” if they spent the entire time taking pictures for the intention of putting them up on facebook for others to see.

     Facebook allows you the opportunity to become whoever you want to be, real or fake. You can post pictures from when you were 20 pounds lighter, and you can make your life sound as extravagant as you please through your clever facebook statuses(even if you are painfully awkward in real life).  In simpler terms, it is all a potential lie. Facebook can be truly deceiving, and the sucker gets me every time. Sigh.

     Don’t get me wrong, facebook is a great site to use to communicate with friends and family, but come on people, it shouldn’t overtake your life. People should at least try to only use facebook in their spare time and not let it interfere with their work, studies, or extracurricular activities. It is likely that because some spend so much time behind their computer screens browsing on their facebook page, soon they will lose sight of what really matters in their lives.  Perhaps it would be wise to spend less time telling others about what we’re doing, and more time actually doing them. 

Logout.  

ATTN: Everyone is sick and dying

Be careful what you wish for.


Just two months ago, I was desperately seeking a job. Now I have one, and I'm desperately seeking retirement.


I currently am working as a receptionist/secretary/front desk clerk, whatever you want to call it, at my dad's personal doctor's office. Not by choice I must add. His part time employee quit suddenly, and I was the first (and only) candidate available. Wo....ho. I've done this job before, when he first opened his practice about a year ago. I would often come home crying and ready to pull my hair out--so naturally, I was super excited to go back for a second round.


I know I complain a lot about being sick and often even use the phrase, "I'm dying." But seriously, the people that come into my dad's office do not even remotely compare to my dramatic antics. I have never realized how needy people are!!! If they feel one ounce of pain, they need medication "IMMEDIATELY." No really, like "ASAP." Like if you don't call it in now" I WILL COLLAPSE FROM THE DIRE EXCRUCIATING PAIN." If you're in that much pain, wouldn't you think to go to the emergency room or something? Clearly your perfectly capable enough to make a "dying" phone call.


Another thing is--do you people not understand the difference between receptionist and psychologist? I'll schedule you an appt, I'll cancel your appt, I will take a message for the doctor, I will contact you with the nurse, but I cannot sit on the phone for hours listening to your sob story. I know I sound like a terrible heartless person, but I can only give examples to explain my coldness and annoyance.


Example 1:
"Doctors Office, Stephanie speaking."
"Hi Stephanie. Is this the doctor's office??"--No, I just like saying doctor's office when I pick up the phone..
"Yes it is, how can I help you?"
"I need a perscription."
"Ok, what medication do  you need?"
"You know Stephanie, because I'm in terrible pain. And I ran out of my medicine."
"Ok, what is the name of the medication?"
"And you know, when I'm at work I can't take it. Stephanie, then my boss wants me to do all this work, but he doesn't pay me enough. And then my husband.."
"I understand, what is the name of the medication?
"Yes Stephanie, and my husband and my kids they just don't appreciate my work.."
     This goes on for about 20 minutes, and she never gives me the name or the medication or the pharmacy. Instead she says, "Oh it's that blue big round pill, and I get it from that pharmacy on Mountain round. There are about 4 different pharmacies on this road, and countless, "blue big round pills." I now know her whole life story, and she knows my name really well-- but have no information I actually neeed.


Example 2:
"I'm soooooo sick. Can I see the doctor today?" (Wimpy *Cough *cough)
"Unfortunately, he's completly booked today, would you like to make an appt. for later this week?"
"Oh, but I'm soooo sick, it has to be today."
"Well.."
"You see I can't sleep at night because I'm just so sick, and my daughter's away, she's in California, and--"
"If you would like I can call you if someone cancels today."
"Oh I can't, I'm so sick, I need to see him now. My daughter's away, in California, and I feel awful, and-"
"I'm going to try to fit you in at the end of the day. That's the best I can do. Do you have insurance, mam?
"No..but I"
"Ok, well without insurance it is a copay of $100."
"That much??"
"Yes."
"Oh, you know I'm going to wait then. I'm going to wait for my daughter. Because right she's in California--"
"Ok then, have a nice day!"
    Suddenly she wasn't "soooooo sick" anymore.


Example 3:
"Can you mail my perscription to me?"
"Unfortunately, we do not do mail-in's. You will have to pick it up."
"Oh, really, not at all."
"No, I'm sorry about that."
"Oh it's just that I live in annapolis, and you guys are sooo far from me."--Annapolis is 15 min. away...If it was that far, why would you come to this office?
"Oh, well--"
"And gas is so expensive these days, and my car is always stopping on me. And then I have to pay so much money at the shop--"
I tell her to hold please, roll my eyes, complain to the medical assistant about it, and ask her opinion. We both agree this is ridiculous. When I pick up, I realize she's still been talking this whole time.
"...I just hate drivers. That was the second time in a month someone hit me."
"Mam--"
"Ok, I'm coming to pick it up, I'm not far." Click.
          Speechless.


I truly believe that what these people really need is a shrink. And a good one at that.
     Someone who will tell them they will still live another day if they have an ache in their ear, shoulder, knee, back, etc, and don't get seen at the doctor's until the next day. Someone who will tell them that the world will not end if they have to wait 10 minutes to refill their med's. Someone who will tell them that doctor's are not magicians, and receptionist's not their wand.