book report

So what have I been up to lately? Reading a ton and trying to soak up as much sun as possible. Have I taken up the challenge of working through the classics? Bah! You all know me a little better than that, I hope. I'm not about to slog through The Brothers Karamozov when there are other treasures at the local public library.

My summer reading recommendations:

Candy Girl, by Diablo Cody
The author (screenwriter for Juno) writes about her days stripping in the Twin Cities. Love the descriptions of her picking out her stripper togs. Stripper styling tips for all!

Escape, by Caroline Jessop
I blame my mother for my weird obsession with Mormons, especially the scary, fundamentalist, polygamist types. Jessop, a former polyg, describes her life as 1 of 5 wives to a man 40 years her senior. Gross! She had 8 kids by the time she was 35! Escapes after being married to this dude for 17 years!

Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fischer
Princess Leia is fuuuuuucked up...and funny! Read all about it!

Gang Leader for a Day, by Sudhir Venkatesh
An Indian-American sociologist spends 6 years hanging out with the Black Kings gang at the Robert Taylor housing project in Chicago (before they were torn down in an attempt to "redistribute the urban poor.") Kind of hate him because it seems like a calculated, ambitious move by someone trying to make a name for himself in academia, but super interesting nevertheless.

American Wife, by Curis Sittenfeld
A fictionalized version of Laura Bush's life. Still don't know how she could have married Dub, but I love to speculate about her motivation.

Enjoy!

Oh God

So one of the fears of internet dating is that you might run into someone in cyberspace that you don't want to. In my line of work, that definitely means a client or someone associated with your workplace or practice as an impartial and professional mental health therapist. I like my church and state separated. Let's just say that putting yourself out there on the internet when you work in the social service/mental health arena has some risks. Today someone in the nonprofit world emailed me. Chances are that we don't intersect in the professional word, but who knows. The last time I tried internet dating (which I might qualify was a verrrrrry short-lived experiment) someone approached me who stated, and I quote "I'm a very prominent child psychiatrist in the area, so I can't reveal my picture at this time." I'm pretty sure it was a creepy guy that I used to work with at the Oaks, but it was never confirmed. So there you have it.

In my last blog I mentioned single girl cliches, and I'd like to share yet another. Last weekend: me, a bottle of wine, and "He's Just Not That Into You" on pay-per-view. Oh god. So pathetic.

I think I might use this blog as an opportunity to share the weird things that I see out on the road when I'm traveling the outreaches of WA for my job. I hope to shares some pictures soon too. Today--a sign advertising "blackjack academy." I am pretty sure that I would make more money after going through blackjack academy than my master's in social work, but I just don't have the time to invest at this point. I'm too busy watching "Steel Magnolias" and
"Pretty Woman."

For you Sarah.

So here it is. My blog. As requested. If you are all wondering, the title of my blog was inspired by my grandmother. One of my favorite of her sayings.

So a couple of weeks ago I read Sloane Kettering's series of essays I Was Told There Would be Cake. Nothing too great, but there were some funny highlights. One of which was an essay about the fear single people have about dying unexpectedly when their apartment is messy and someone having to go through all their weird stuff. Basically the awful thought that all your loved ones are going to remember about you is that you is how dirty you were. It made me think about the cliches of being single and how, unfortunately, some of them ring true. Sometimes I feel like I gauge my life by Bridget Jones' Diary as in "oh my god, this is so pathetic. like something from BJD." I had one of those BJD moments the other day when I ate seaweed salad and popcorn for lunch. Although, in retrospect, one of the things I really like about being single is the freedom to eat weird ass stuff. So suck it, Bridget.

In other news, the internet dating is, eh, going I guess. I know I'm picky, but god, if I say it once, I'll say it again. Details are important. I have rejected people for the following:

1. Posing for their profile picture flashing the deuce, aka, frat-boy, douchebag upside down peace, and spiky faux-hawk.
2. Mentioning their love of tai-chi (and putting up a profile picture that looked pretty sweaty)
3. Devoting the majority of their little "about me" write-up about their militant athiesm. I'm an athiest too, but there's more to me than that.
4. Posing shirtless with a cowboy hat
5. and finally, looking waaaay too much like my dad

I know it's cowardly, but when I reject, I always say it's because I found someone else. And I guess it's true. I found me. And somebody better be pretty awesome for me to give up all that quality time that me and myself have together. We have good times.