Memories...light the corners of just about everything

My friend Kristi thinks that I'm somehow connected to everyone on the planet. Here's the plain truth. I have this crazy memory for details. They can be important or insignificant, and if the topic involves numbers, it's usually stuck in my head for good.

So, I remember the names of people whom I met in passing at nearly every instant of my life. I remember friends of friends and boyfriends of friends whom I'm sure would never remember me. No significant event needs to happen either. It's just the way my head works, to no fault of my own.

One evening at Kristi's, we were hooked on the most guilty pleasure of all, The Millionaire Matchmaker. It was better than that. The Millionaire Matchmaker Marathon. By about the 10th epsiode, I recognized a guy that a friend of mine dated in junior high school. I met him one time. Kristi, I'm sure, thought I was on drugs, until he started spouting details that I already knew and said out loud before he did.

In college, I was often able to close my eyes, and picture my notes, color coded of course, to recall the data for the final. It wasn't that I necessarily remembered the material, it's just that I memorized what my notes looked like. I have a confession...remember in that blog, a few ago, in which I spoke of the A+ I received in a physics class. Here's the truth. I memorized the practice quizes and homework sets so at test time, all I did was repeat the solutions with the new numbers. I still understand nothing about that silly, elusive charge always labeled "q", but at final time, I memorized the practice final and regurgitated the answers, simply calculating off the new parameters offered that day.

I remember almost every birthday of everyone whom I ever knew. And, I remember their kids birthdays too. If I heard it once, it gets stuck in my head. Then, I end up in conflict. Come birthday of said party, do I call and wish them a happy day, or do I appear like a stalker with an overinterest in an acquaintance's life, someone whom I no longer have regular contact with? Do people like to hear from their pasts on their birthday? Or are those chapters closed and required to stay that way? I call my dear friend, Lori every year on her birthday. This is my longest friend and by my calculation, that's 36 phone calls. I now call her on my birthday too, to remind her to call me. I don't get hurt feelings anymore, now that I know that most people don't have this affliction.

I have emotional memory too. That's a term that Kristi used the other day and I thought it was perfect. I can remember exactly how I felt on a certain day, so vividly that I can relive it many years later. It's not like remembering feeling happy or sad. It's more that my entire state can become that state again while recalling or reminiscing about a certain event.

I'm sure my family, (read Husband) HATES my memory. I try not to use it for evil causes but honestly, who can resist the temptation of relaying every detail and punctuation mark of a conversation from eight years ago, when you know it projects you in a beam of light? (read I was right, he was wrong.)

I'm an unlicensed MD

I'm medically curious. I can't help it. I can't stand to think there's a disease, a procedure, a condition, or an affliction that I don't truly understand. I am best friends with WebMD. I have enough knowledge to be truly dangerous. Going back to previous thoughts...my frienship with the internet...I "Google" every medically related topic I can think of. I don't even know why I do this, and it doesn't even have to be a condition of MINE. All I need to do is hear about it and I get that panicy feeling until I've consulted my sources. Maybe this is a form of OCD...maybe psychosis...ok, at least nerosis. You see what happens. I'm like a junkie needing a fix. My friend Annette calls me for my unlicensed medical advice. She knows, that if I DON'T know the answer, I'll be looking it up in mere moments. And then all the related topics.

Yet, I could have never been a doctor. I hated the lab classes. I avoided them like the plague (another disease) until I could no longer hide. It's pretty tough to avoid lab classes when you are at UCSD as a Biology major with an emphasis in Biochemistry. So, here's what I did. I opted for the least invasive class I could. It was called Biochemical Techniques. It didn't involved fetal pigs or pregnant frogs. There was no cutting involved at all. All we had to do, was mix chemicals and chart the results. Simple enough. Here's what happened during that quarter in hell! I barely survived. I hated that class and whined and complained every Tu/Th for 10 weeks. I hated washing those beakers and felt entitled to a lab assistant to do it for me. I never cared enough to get all the soap out so while everyone else's "product" - (that's what they called the result of mixing chemicals) turned orange, mine would be black. If they got black, mine would be clear. If their chart was a straight line up, mine was some sort of parabolic arc. Thank goodness for the written final. It saved me. Honestly, the difference between a ml or 2 mls...not enough for me to lose sleep over. But it was five hours, twice a week and that was just for prep. Then, you had to come back at some ungodly, dark hour, lurking through the building to check your results. I was scared to death every time I had to walk across that dark plaza, past the big fountain and into the catacombs of hell that they called Biochem Techniques.

How did we ever survive without the internet? I don't know if I have a single thought that I don't run by my sources. How's that for conviction?

Lists and lists of lists

Have you ever realized how it seems much more likely to get something done if you can go through the ritual of physically checking it off a list?

Even though I know what I have to do, I am much more likely to do it and much less likely to procrasitinate if I actually write it down and cross if off.

I'm not fully evolved. I'm an old pen and paper girl. I tried keeping track of the things I need to do electronically through Outlook and even more primatively on an early Palm Pilot. The sheer idea of having to go to a device for my list, somehow leaves me cold. It won't surprise you to know that I keep an actual datebook as well. I prefer the one that starts in August, I think they call it an Academic Calendar and I love the month view. I like my scribbles and my notes and I don't need free wi-fi to know who I'm having lunch with. I'm getting a little romantic for an Iphone but I won't sacrifice my current cell service with Verizon for AT&T. No offense AT&T, just doesn't have as wide coverage. When AT&T and Apple severe the bond, I might be in.

But here's the funny thing. I can't live without my laptop and an internet connection. I research my every thought just to know if I'm right. My eight year old swears that a dophin is a whale. I'm sure he's right as he usually is about such things, so as soon as I am finished here, I will do the next two things on my list:

1. Look up the relationship between whales and dolphins

2. Research the length of the AT&T contract with Apple, so I can get the Iphone.

Hard Times - Hard Questions

I find that during difficult times, the truth is told. Suffice it to say, I sent 2008 out with a "see you, wouldn't want to be you" sentiment.

Here are several things I learned...
Strength comes from the least expected places.

Friendships prove themselves under the weight of the world.

Even those who appear strongest, need help at times.

Those whom you thought you could count on, often crack under pressure.

Fair weathered friends are sometimes just not equipped to handle life's challenges, but it doesn't make them evil.

When you have a life preserver floating next to you, in the form of a dear friend, or a kind stranger, you generally don't need to use it. But, knowing it's there, is often enough to keep you from drowning.

It's imperative to thank EVERYONE who pitches in, in whatever manner they are able.

If you are lucky enough to be alive, you still have to live, have fun and enjoy the gifts of the day.

No stressing allowed on Friday through Sunday. Stress deserves a weekend too.

Posting that profile photo - and insights

So, help me out here. I keep trying to post that profile photo and every time, it crashes my computer and blows my internet connection. Happens this way with Facebook too. I can't figure out why.

"Here's what you gotta do" This is how most of my thoughts begin. I'm not so arrogant to think that anything I have to say is of interest to anyone else, but if you are here, you are searching for if nothing more, fun conversation. So here are some insights into me. Do any of you agree with the following?

I think it's strange to post your every move on Facebook. I have maybe 7 "friends". I only join to keep up with my nearest and dearest "invitations", and I have to admit that it's been fun reconnecting with some old high school buds. In fact, it was rumored that one of those people was dead and it turns out, he's alive and well and posting on Facebook. But truly, when I open my page now and then and I see what someone did 10 minutes ago, I somehow find that strange and it's usually something rather mundane like "washed the dishes". Whew!! There's some Earth Shattering news.

I'm a bargain hunter, but I'm not cheap. Simply challenged by the economy. I just don't want to pay more for what I could get for less with a little extra effort during these tough times. I like to believe it's one for our team.

I'm challenged by the Secret. I read it. I re-read it. And I'm having a hard time understanding the "like attracts like" principal. I'm no physicist, but I went to a fairly respectable school (UCSD), I majored in biology...I got an A+ in Physics - Elecricity and Magnetism...and what I recall is that Opposites attract, and Like forces repel. So, fill me in...what am I missing? Nonetheless, I visualize the future...mine includes but is not limited to monetary wealth and I'm still not realizing the results. Not at all like the folks on Oprah.

I TiVO Oprah and Dr. Phil every day. I'm not really interested in what they have to say, but more their guests. And not the Hollywood types. I delete those shows, mostly, before I ever watch them. The real people with real lives and real courage. Those are the ones I hang my hat on. I'm always amazed at the strength of the most ordinary people. I admire them. But what Gail thinks is the country's best hamburger...about as much interest as the Facebooker washing the dishes.

Who wants to chat?

It's funny, in the past two weeks, I was twice told that I should have a column called "Cindy Says". Two separate friends told me that "Dear Abby" has nothing on me. Well, this is what's evolved. Truth be told, I try to look at the practial side of everything. OK...everything in YOUR life. My life is filled with the emotional roller coasters of regular life for a wife and a mother of two (and sometimes 3, if you know what I mean). But in reality, I am a very practical person and have practical thoughts on practically everything. I can usually look at both sides of any issue and see the truth. I am registered Independet for that reason. I can't go with a party, I always vote on the issue. If I can at all understand it from what little yellow book says.



I was also told about a year ago that I am terrible to shop with. Why? Because I am fast, but practical. It was suggested by my dear friend and fashion guru Celeste that if you are fast, you must be impulsive. If you are slow, you are allowed to be practical. So here's the cunnundrum for her. I am FAST yet Practical. She says it doesn't work that way. She always looks adorable so she must be right. When I try something on, I wonder how it will look at the park...since that's the general level of formality of my life. And I don't want flat ass. So, "park cute" with a high hiney and I'm good to go. Why is that so difficult to accomplish? And in case you are wondering, I am not fat. I am about 5 ft. 9 inches and waiver between 135 where I'm really happy and 140 where I'm not at all happy. And of course, post two kids, I don't have the flat tummy I used to. But there is absolutely no reason why my ass should have fallen below my knees. I was pregnant in the front and that was five years ago. Why oh why does this happen?



Well, this is the beginning. But ask me questions, and talk to me. This was born from my friend Wendy. She seems to think that I can come up with the answers to everything from "what to make for dinner," (I hate to cook) to "how do I fix my marriage?" I figure, from a practical perspective, the more we talk about you...the less we talk about my issues. It's a very sneaky, yet practical way of getting my mind off my own challenges. So, bring it on...let's chat.