My karma is off. I don't know why, but it's off. I spent a lot of this weekend--what should have been a wonderfully relaxing 3 days--in a state of heightened insecurity. About what? Several things, but no one in particular. Actually, that's kind of a lie--part of the weekend was really relaxing, but the moment I let my mind wander too much, I'd tense up and turn into a hyper-sensitive, overly-analytical, tangle of emotions. At one point, in an effort to purge the bad, I decided to make a list of everything weighing on my mind:

1. My impending move. Where? I still have no idea.
~How much needs to go to Goodwill? How much needs to go into storage? What about
packing? Hiring movers to help? The truck?
2. Classes are starting--3 of them.
3. The gas $$ I will spend to get to those classes.
4. The cost of my health insurance (trust me, you don't want to know).
5. My car tire is losing air. That means I probably need 2 new tires.
6. My relationships, both with friends I don't see that often and with the boyfriend (although, for
all intents and purposes, all of those relationships are good, it's just missing my friends and
juggling time for the boyfriend with work, his busy schedule, and my soon-to-be busy class
schedule. It's preemptive worrying, really)

Then I stepped back, took a look at my list, my pathetic little list, and started having one of those "in the grand scheme of things" debates that usually end up making me feel guilty for feeling like any of this is even remotely worth stressing over. I think ultimately, I just feel unsettled right now. My homework assignment for myself (to be done tonight, during the class that started 2 weeks earlier than the other 2) is to create two new lists, one with all of the positive things going on and one with things I can do to make myself feel more at ease, even when I'm really not. Stay tuned to see what I come up with. Suggestions are welcome (not for the good things--that list will be easy. It's the other one I could use a little help with).....

Why must we be a nation that coddles?

I am not one for discussing national politics, mostly because I'm such an indecisive person and there are very few issues on which I have a rock solid, no-one's-going-to-ever-change-my-mind opnion. Thus, it's fairly easy for someone to sway me to at least consider the other side of an issue (I would have been terrible on a debate team), nevermind the fact that politics, in general, leave me disillusioned and frstrated. I'd much rather talk about other things, like music, movies, or anything that doesn't involve getting people so fired up they flail their arms and spit while they're making their point.

I have, however, been paying some attention to the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Alito. At least, I listen as long as I can before my eyes start to glaze over. Thank goodness for NPR's highlights! Anyway, this whole confirmation process is yet another reason for both Republicans and Democrats to get all fired up either for or against Alito, and while I hate the childish bickering, the strategic game-playing, and the finger pointing the seems to always go on between the R's and the D's, I think the hearings are 100% necessary and completely justified.

This morning as I was listening to the 'Today Show' and then listening to NPR on the way to work, newcasters kept talking about yesterday's scene, when Alito's wife left the hearing in tears. There were several comments flying around about this incident; most of them pointed to the D's "tough line of questioning" and whether or not it was necessary. What? This man is about to be confirmed (and yes, I think he will be confirmed) to the nation's highest court, you know, the one who sets the precedent for so many issues that affect millions of people--and once he's confirmed, he's there for life, and people wonder if it's necessary to question him about his honesty, his ethics, his beliefs, his integrity, and yes, about why his beliefs have changed over the past twenty years? Of course the questions should be tough, and yes, maybe even offensive to Alito.

Why? Because I don't know him. I'd never heard of him before he was nominated, and neither had any other average American. I want to know about discrepancies, and I want to know how his appointment could affect my life. I think I'd be more upset if elected officials, those who were voted into office by Americans and entrusted to carry on on our behalf, weren't asking tough questions.

I'm not saying the R's and D's don't have their own agendas--of course they do. It's such a game: the D's are doing their best to discredit Alito on several points, while the R's are doing their best to make the D's look like they're over-zealously gunning for Alito. I do think the D's are starting to beat a dead horse on some issues, but to keep apologizing to Alito--as the R's are doing--for the tough questions about his opinions and his integrity, etc....it's not like the man is going to break if he's challenged. For god's sake, he's a Supreme Court nominee; I hope he can withstand that kind of scrutiny.

I do feel for his wife. It must be difficult to listen, hour after hour, as your husband's character is attacked. She loves him, she believes in him, and I could very well be just as upset if it was me sitting there with the boyfriend in the hot seat, and it has to be one of the most stressful situations she's ever been in. But I hope she understands that many of us don't know her husband like she does, and while I don't necessarily think our elected officials are doing a stellar job of it, they are the ones I'm trusting to get as much information about Alito as possible. Not to mention, I think Alito's held up pretty well under so much scrutiny and he's handled most, if not all, of the questions with an even-temper and dignity (of course, he is dodging some key issues, but that's a totally separate post, and I'm all politicked-out). So please, Congressmen, he doesn't need to be handled with kid gloves.

Apparently, strippers are 'quirky'.....

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic

Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few.But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky. Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski

Now, is it just me, or does anyone else find it strange that Showgirls is grouped with Office Space and The Big Lebowski? And since when is Showgirls a cult classic?

It was fun while it lasted....

....but, sigh, vacation is officially over. I am back at work, once again trying to aimlessly fill my time with as much procrastination as possible. I've gotten quite good at it, really.

My Holiday/Christmas (or whatever is/isn't acceptable these days) vacation was a lot of nothing, and it was perfect. The boyfriend and I made a few rounds to friends and family, but most of our time was spent either sleeping or vegging. Some might call this an unproductive use of our time; I say those people need to shush because in reality, how often does one have the luxury of being that idle? Almost never, right? So, I will take my week of nothing and remember it fondly. I did manage to read two-and-a-half books, which is a recent record for me. I forget just how much I enjoy waking up without an alarm, and then spending the next few hours snuggled under the covers reading. It used to be somewhat of a Sunday morning ritual before I became busy with grad school, etc. If I were a New Year's resolution kind of person, I'd add that to my list!

I've decided to start making my posts a little less prolix, which is difficult because I have an intense need to overexplain just about anything and everything. For the sake of the 2 or 3 readers I have (Hi mom, dad, and other random people who stop by), I will attempt to spare them my long diatribes. I do find it funny that the very people I started this for are not "blog" people and therefore don't really read. Not that it's a big deal--I like having a record of things going on to supplement my journal (my hand gets tired of writing!), it's just funny. Ciao!