I have never done illegal drugs. Not a single one. I’ve never even tried marijuana. Hell, I’ve never even tried a regular cigarette (just the thought makes me sick). I’ve never ever had the desire to do any of it. Maybe my elementary school D.A.R.E. program did a really good job on me, or maybe I’m just a big weenie. Either way, I’ve never wanted to try anything (though I’ve made the occasional tongue-in-cheek comment about wanting to do speed, since it makes you skinny). I have, however, had alcohol. I don’t drink often, and I’ve been drunk exactly twice ever. I get very sleepy after I’ve had a drink or two, and though I’m told to just “push through it” I can’t ever do it. So I choose not to drink. I don’t mind being the designated driver, or the only sober person in a group. I never feel like I’m missing anything, and I never cave into peer pressure (not when it comes to drinking at least). I’ll have a drink if and when I feel like it, but it’s pretty rare. (You’ll find, however, a few pictures of me with a drink on Facebook. Since I so rarely drink, people feel the need to document the occasion with their cameras. Kinda cracks me up.)
I am for legalizing marijuana. I don’t think it’s a gateway drug, and I don’t think it’s any worse than alcohol, which is already legal. I think legalizing it and selling it through authorized locations could do great things for the amount of debt our state/country currently has. I disagree, however, that marijuana is not addictive. I think that while there may be no chemical addiction, a psychological addiction is just as bad. I know a few people who think they can’t sleep without smoking pot first. I know someone who feels like he can’t function throughout the day without smoking pot, and contrary to the stereotype, he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met. I think marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol is, but I don’t believe that any other drugs should be legalized. There are lots of people who are of the “all or nothing” mindset when it comes to legalizing drugs, and I am most assuredly not one of them. I think there’s enough scientific proof that marijuana is not as harmful as originally thought, and enough proof that all the others (heroin, crack, cocaine, ecstasy, etc.) are far worse. If alcohol can be legal, why not pot? If cigarettes, the only product that if used correctly WILL kill you, are legal then there should be some consideration for legalizing pot, don’t you think?
For some reason this didn’t post when it was supposed to. So here it is now.
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Well, since both of these are touchy subjects, I’d like to start by saying these are just my own opinions. You are all entitled to yours and they’re probably different than mine, and that’s great. I’m not here to offend anyone or single anyone out, or tell anyone they’re wrong. This is just how I feel.
When it comes to religion, I consider myself agnostic at best. I don’t believe in God, but I don’t necessarily think my beliefs are absolutely right. I could be wrong, who knows? I don’t, however, think any one religion is right. I think they all have good and bad parts. I don’t care if people want to believe something different than I do. How they want to live their life is entirely up to them. I do, however, mind when their beliefs start infringing on basic civil rights, like I wrote about yesterday. I mind when they tell me that there’s something wrong with me or my life because I don’t believe the same thing they do. I very much take offense to that.
For some people, I think religion is a crutch. A way to make excuses for their actions, or for things that happened to them. You did not get fired because “God had another plan” for you. You got fired because you didn’t show up for work. That kind of logic drives me insane. It’s so easy to put the blame on anything else but yourself, rather than taking responsibility for your actions. But I know that there are very wonderful people out there who are very much involved in their church and very religious, and I adore them completely. When I was renting a room from a married couple (the sister of my old boyfriend and her husband) I tried going to church with them a few times. But I just never felt comfortable with it. That didn’t mean that I didn’t adore both of them, or that I didn’t have anything in common with them. We just had different beliefs. They never tried to push it on me, or make me feel badly because I didn’t believe in the same thing. Same thing with the parents of that same old boyfriend. They’re very active in their church, and yet never ever made me feel uncomfortable because I believed differently. They are the very type of people I have immense respect for. They believe what they feel is right, and still respect the rights of others to believe differently.
Politics are different. I try to avoid political discussion as much as possible because A) I am not knowledgeable enough to speak about it intelligently, and B) it doesn’t interest me in the least. I know it should. I know I should be up to date on all the issues because they affect me or will affect me someday. But unless they cause a change to my everyday life right now, I have a hard time caring. I know that’s ignorant. I know it’s the wrong view to have. But I can’t make myself be involved in something that I have absolutely no interest in. Like religion, I think political beliefs (and parties) have good and bad parts. Some parties are more religion driven, which annoys me because political decisions are supposed to be separate from religion. (But since our Pledge of Allegiance has “under God” in it, I guess there’s no reasonable expectation of that, is there?)
I believe everyone should have the right to vote. I also believe that if you don’t vote, you shouldn’t complain. I vote in every election, though I only vote for issues or candidates that I feel adequately educated about. But I don’t complain about the things I didn’t take the time to vote on. That would be wrong.
Well, I lied. I said I would post the other days of truth while I was in Vegas for the weekend, and I didn’t. I’ll make up for them at the end of the 30 days, but for organizational purposes, I’m going to keep doing the prompts that match the day of the month. It’ll just be easier for me.
Day18: Your views on gay marriage.
Oh this one is easy. I don’t even have to really think about it. I’m for it 100%. I don’t think anyone has the right to tell someone else who they can and can’t marry. Telling two homosexuals that they can’t marry each other is the same thing as telling two people with red hair that they can’t marry each other. It’s ridiculous. Your choice of husband or wife, whether they be male or female, has absolutely zero effect on my life. None. It doesn’t make my relationship any less or any more than it already was. I think if two people love each other and want to marry each other, it’s not my place, nor anyone else’s to tell them they can’t. I think they’re entitled to the same rights and privileges as I am. If I were a lesbian and wanted to marry my female partner, I’d be pretty pissed that I wasn’t allowed to (at least in most states/countries).
I have never been able to understand the viewpoint of people opposed to gay marriage. I’ve always tried to see an issue from both sides, even if I only agree with one. It makes for more intelligent debate, in my opinion. But this? I can’t see the other side of this. Opponents want to “protect” marriage because they feel gay marriage hurts or lessens marriage . How? Marriage is a promise, an agreement, a commitment, and technically, a contract. How does gender change anything? If two men make a business deal, does it make it less valid than if a man and a woman made a business deal? Or if two women did? That doesn’t make sense. Opponents say that the bible says homosexuality is wrong, and therefore homosexuals are deviants who should not be afforded the same rights as the rest of us. Aside from the fact that church and state are supposed to be separate (something that MANY people seem to forget), the bible also says a whole lot of other stuff that those same opponents don’t follow. I’d rehash that for you here, but Aaron Sorkin wrote the greatest scene in television history (in my opinion) on that same subject. Please enjoy:
Different doesn’t mean better or worse. It’s just different. If we were all the same, this world would be pretty damn boring. At least in my opinion.
Day 13: A band or artist that has helped you through tough days.
Really? Who listens to just one band or artist? I mean, I’m sure everyone has their favorites, but just one to help you through the tough days? Certainly not.
I often listen to Metallica when I’m in a bad or angry mood. Something about listening to angry music when I’m angry helps me to get it all out and feel better later. If I’m feeling depressed and sad, I really like listening to slow music like classical or new age music. I have a playlist on my iPod full of “stress relief” CD’s that I love listening to when I’m feeling down or when I can’t sleep. I don’t even know who any of the artists are, since they’re all compilation CD’s.
That was probably the least insightful “truth” post so far, but now it’s done and I can sleep. I’m leaving for Vegas tomorrow for a girls weekend, and I still need to pack! It’ll be an early morning for me. I’ll post more “truth” from the road. Enjoy your weekend!
This? This is easy. And I take absolutely no offense to not getting compliments on things. Also, this post isn’t intended to spawn compliments either. I’m cool with this, I swear.
I don’t get compliments on anything physical. Clothes, looks, hair, etc. The only exception would be my eyes, which are occasionally called pretty (and they’re GREEN, dammit, not blue). Aside from that, there’s nothing. Which is fine. I’m not very pretty. I don’t dress particularly well. I can’t for the life of me figure out how to wear makeup to enhance my good features, or hide the bad ones. So it’s really no surprise to me that I don’t get these kind of compliments. It’s ok. I’m used to it. If I had the choice between being pretty and being smart, I’d pick smart in a heartbeat. (Well, I’d pick both if that was an option. )
What I’d love, really, is to get a spot on one of those makeover shows. The ones that teach you how to dress for your size/shape, or how to make your hair look nice, or how to wear makeup properly. That would be awesome. But I’m good the way I am. I like me, Donald likes me, that’s what counts.
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
One of the items on my life list is to learn to take a compliment graciously. Perhaps if I’d worked on that a little bit more, then I’d remember a few more compliments I was given. Conversely, I can remember almost every single negative thing anyone has ever said about me. And that’s quite a lot of stuff.
So. Something positive. I guess the one thing that comes to mind is my intelligence. People make comments about me being smart more often than anything else. This always sort of throws me off because I don’t think I’m that much smarter than the average person. I think I remember a lot of random crap that maybe other people don’t remember (lucky me!), and I’m pretty good at looking things up if I don’t know them. I don’t, however, think either of those things makes me smarter than anyone else. But that’s the first thing that comes to mind when I’m pressed to think of something.
The only other thing that might compete, and that I might agree with, would be compliments on my sense of humor or my application of humor. I can be funny, sometimes. I love LOVE sarcasm, and can usually whip up a witty retort or comment when the situation arises. Or even if it doesn’t arise. I like being funny. I’ve never been the class clown, or gone for the physical comedy thing. I just prefer the intelligent humor. I guess other people do too.
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Do you have toxic friends? You know, the ones you’re not sure why you’re still friends with because they’re obnoxious or have drama or various other negative attributes, and yet you still see them socially? I have one of those.
(In the interest of privacy, I’m not going to say who it is, or if they’re a he or she. But in the interest of a narrative that makes sense, I’m going to pretend it’s a he.)
He always has some major drama going on. Some employer who fired him for no reason, or a spouse who’s a jerk (except that part is really true. No one likes her.), or some part of life that is just against him. He’s always asking to borrow money, and never paying it back. And yet he participates in activities that require money (sports, bar hopping, etc.) and expects other people to pay for him. And yet, I just don’t have any sympathy for him. He brings it on himself. Employer fires you? Maybe you should have shown up to work. Wife continually cheats on you and screws you out of money? Maybe you should stop going back to her.
But we’re still friends. He can be nice and funny when he’s not being an obnoxious prick (generally correlated to the amount of his alcohol intake), and he’s loyal, probably to a fault. But if I wanted less drama in my life, I would let him go. I guess I’m ok with it right now.
Since my sister moved out in October, my mom has been turning her old room into a guest room, and the old guest room into an office. For Christmas, we all chipped in and got Mom 11×14 prints of all 5 of our dogs, past and present, and framed them so she’d have art for her walls. This was the picture I used of Mia, and it’s by far my favorite of her. I loved it so much that I’m getting a print of it framed for our house as well.
Here is the complete set of dog pictures, for those of you who are curious:
Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted away from.
There are a lot of people I could write about here. Who doesn’t have a list of friends they’ve drifted away from for one reason or another?
When I moved out to Riverside, I drifted away from a lot of my friends, simply because of the distance. It’s roughly 30 miles from where I used to live, but it can be a 2 hour trip if you’re trying it at the wrong time of the day. For a while I drove out all the time to see the people I cared about. But I got a little tired of always being the one to do the travelling. So I cut back, and therefore didn’t see some people as often, since almost no one came out to me. And then it got to be that we didn’t see each other at all. After a few years, we all ended up on Facebook, so I know what’s going on in their lives in a limited capacity, but it’ll never be the same kind of friendship it was. I’m a little sad about that in the case of a few people, but most of the time, it was just a quiet drifting apart with no hostility or animosity on either side.
It’s still one of my personal goals to be a better friend and make sure that drifting apart doesn’t happen. I try and send e-mails, texts, and in some cases cards via snail mail to keep friendships alive. I won’t say I’m perfect at it, because there are a lot of times I mean to do it, and end up playing Angry Birds for more time than I’d like to admit. But I’m trying.
Day 8: Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
You know, I think whoever made this list was in a very bad mood at the time. So much negativity!
I think we’ve pretty much covered the one person who this prompt applies to. I’m done writing about him. And since I’m pretty exhausted tonight, that’s all the truth I’m going to tell. Good night!
The woman in line at Victoria's Secret in front of me is letting her 4 year old play in the sample makeup.
I can't even. 2011-12-23
It's water, not acid rain y'all. DRIVE! 2011-12-16
The top 40 radio station here bleeps out the word "alcohol." Umm why? 2011-12-16
@vomviersen I am not allowed in The Container Store alone. My bank card cries every time. That place is the devil's playground. (I LOVE IT) in reply to vomviersen2011-12-15
It's apparent from the public appearance of some people that mirrors are a luxury item. 2011-12-15
