A Peek at Karen's World

Friday, June 1, 2012

Flashback Fridays: My Sucky Life

Hi, everyone!

I mentioned last week that Flashback Fridays were coming back and today's the day.

I had a lot of fun with this last year, scrolling through hundreds of old posts and trying to find a few that were worthy of seeing the light of day again. After nearly 5 years of blogging, there were a LOT of posts to read. And it was dismaying how many of them are NOT gems.

I guess I need to step up the awesomeness, eh?

Anyway, this post is from way back in 2008. Right after I first joined Facebook and was sort of a little bit obsessed with taking all those quizzes that used to be so ubiquitous. This post made me giggle and I hope you enjoy it.

I might have mentioned before that I occasionally wander onto Facebook.

Obviously, the main reason I go there is to reconnect with old friends. (Hi, old friends!) It's actually been pretty amazing how I've been able to find people I haven't talked to in 10 or 15 years. People that I always liked but just lost contact with over the years.

(At first, I was a little afraid that all of the people I have been avoiding for the past decade or so might track me down, but I'm starting to believe that they are just as glad to be done with me as I am with them.)

One of the other ~~time wasters~~ fun things I have found on Facebook is the vast array of quizzes that give me detailed information about my own psyche. Deep, profound things I never knew about myself.

For example, thanks to Facebook, I have learned that I should be living in South Dakota because I prefer pine trees and lakes to palm trees and the big blue ocean. I also learned that, of all the cities in California, I should be living in San Diego because I love palm trees and the big blue ocean. I discovered, via the Rorschach Test, that I am "tormented" while most of my friends are "perfectly sane." I am also "Not at all Mexican," my inner-nationality is "Swedish," and my LOST character is "Kate Austen."

(Unlike the haters, I love Kate, so this one is just fine with me!)

Last night, I was informed that my life sucks.

I took the quiz "Rate My Life" and scored a 6.5 out of 10.

In a matter of six questions, I went from a general feeling of discontentment to finding out that a rhinoceros attempting a balance beam routine would get a higher score than my whole life.

What were those six essential questions, you might ask? Take a look for yourself. Maybe you'll learn a little something about how lousy your own life is, too:

1. What is your highest level of education?

Graduate Degree

Doctorate

Bachelors

Highschool

Jr High or lower

I have a Bachelor's Degree. Two, in fact. And considering that approximately 27.2% of Americans have a Bachelor's Degree, I'm thinking being in the 73rd percentile is pretty good. So, I think that one helped my score. At least a little.

2. I am overweight

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Disagree

Neutral

Strongly Agree

So, yeah, I am. What about that expression "fat and happy"? You'd think that should count for something, right?

3. How often do you have sex?

1-5 times a month

5-10 times a month

10-20 times a month

Very seldom or never

A lot, I don't even keep count

Now this question isn't really fair. Because it doesn't take into account the reasons why you might choose a specific answer. For example, hypothetically speaking, someone might choose "Very seldom or never" but it might be for completely voluntary religious purposes. Maybe.

4. Others think that I have a good character.

Strongly Agree

Disagree

Agree

Neutral

Strongly Disagree

I don't really understand why they are rating my life based on what I think other people think about me. That sounds a little weird, doesn't it? Shouldn't it matter if I think I have good character? But regardless, I had to agree with this one because people seem to trust me and they probably wouldn't if they thought I had bad character, right? Although all those people did trust Bernie Madoff...

5. Have you ever... (check the one that you've done the most)

Cheated on your partner

Smoke cigarettes

Done drugs

Watched porn

Been to prison

I tried to submit the quiz without marking an answer since I have never done any of these things. It wouldn't let me. It FORCED me to say that I have done one of these. I finally settled on "Watched porn" because some of the crap that makes it into movies and TV (and NO, I am NOT talking about NC-17 or TV-MA, sheesh!) can sort of qualify. When I went back and changed my answer to "Done drugs" since I have been (a teeny, tiny bit) addicted to caffeine, the result was the same. I wonder if I would have gotten a higher score if I'd been in prison...

6. I am happy with my life

Strongly Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Disagree

Well, how happy would YOU be after having to admit that you're overweight, you never have sex, you've watched porn and done drugs?

So I think I might lay off the Facebook quizzes for awhile. I just don't want to find out that my secret celebrity crush is Andrew Dice Clay and that I'm going to die of bee stings while attempting my ideal career of underwater opera singing.

*****
Are you flashing back to an old post this week? If so, link up and share!

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

Smile

It's funny how sometimes we don't notice our good moods until someone else points them out.

Does that happen to anyone else?

Just me?

Whatever.

It happened this morning.

My weekly therapy sessions with the Best Therapist Ever--

(No, not Dr. Phil.)

(Not Ben & Jerry either.)

--happen every Friday morning. Since January I've only missed one week and it was because I was at the cemetery saying good bye to my grandmother.

It's amazing how well you can get to know someone when you see them every week for four months. And that's the case with him. It's gotten to the point where I can anticipate what he's going to say about most things. Right down to exactly the way he will say it. And I'm pretty sure he'd say the same about me, too.

But this morning, something a little different happened.

I'd been talking about some of the downright sucky things that have happened lately:

Grandma

family drama

car wreck #1

car wreck #2

losing my debit card

changes in ward boundaries that put me in a different ward from most of my friends

(and my bishop)

finding out the other guy's car insurance won't cover wreck #2

shoulder injury

etc, etc, etc

There was a little bit of a lull in the conversation that usually indicates it's time to switch topics. So he asked me a fairly benign question.

"What are your thoughts lately on depression?"

I thought for a minute and then said, "Honestly, I haven't had much time to think about it. I've been too busy."

And then he pointed out that while I was describing all the lameness that has been the month of May, I had a smile on my face and never once acted like the sky was falling or my world was caving in.

"I don't think you've been too busy to think about depression," he said. "I think you're learning how to take things as they come. How to handle them. And you're doing it in a healthy way."

It's weird. I hadn't even noticed that I was smiling. Or that I had stopped wallowing.

It just came on so gradually that I never saw it until it was pointed out.

He went on to say that he noticed the difference as soon as I walked through the door this morning. Which is funny because it's not like this has been a spectacular week.

(Although I really am digging that Malibu...)

It looks like maybe it's finally happening. Maybe I've finally turned a corner on this latest round of depression. I know I'm not "cured" obviously. But getting better. And hopefully I can stay this way for awhile.

Have an awesome three-day weekend. I plan to spend it doing nothing responsible or boring. This girl's having some fun!

PS: Starting next Friday, I'm bringing back the Flashback Fridays link up for the summer. It's so much fun to go back and look at long-forgotten posts. I'd love it if you'd join in!

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

Instagram Wednesday: The Ride

The rental car company didn't want to let me have a car since I sorta kinda don't have any credit cards and I had to report my debit car lost last week and am still waiting for the replacement.

I asked an English professor friend of mine if it's ironic that I couldn't get a rental car without my debit card when the reason I need a rental car is because I lost my debit card. He said it's not ironic, just bad luck.

(It's also kind of a long story that I'm going to tell just as soon as things get finished up with the insurance company.)

Anyway, some arrangements and approvals were made by the manager and I'm now cruising around town in a practically brand new Chevy Malibu. It's pretty and clean and roomy. And it doesn't get nearly as good of gas mileage as my dear Smurfette.

Oh well. It's temporary. And since I have to drive a substitute car, it may as well be something fun!

(Of course, the free upgrade didn't hurt.)

If you've got an Instragram/Wordless Wednesday/iPhone Photo or other photo-centric post today, link up and share!

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

Fair Karma, How Have I Offended Thee?

You know that saying, "When it rains, it pours"?

I'm standing right in the middle of a flood.

It's been one hell of a month already and I'm more than a little nervous as I look at the calendar and realize there are still ten days left until June.

First there was my grandmother's passing. Which actually happened at the end of April, but the services and family drama came in May.

I was sideswiped on the freeway and the left side of my car was looking a little ugly and my mirror was destroyed.

My doctor decided to send me back to the orthopedic surgeon since my wrist and hand are getting worse instead of better. Apparently that shouldn't be happening more than a year after a fracture and surgery.

And then, last Thursday, this happened:

I'm not sure how much I can say since I'm in the middle of dealing with insurance companies and police reports and stuff.

But I will say that the other guy was a teenager and didn't have a license.

And my shoulder was slightly dislocated in the collision.

And part of that side panel is sitting on my tire, rendering my car undriveable.

As Melanie Jacobson said on Facebook, something has GOT to break my way soon. Because I honestly don't know how much more I can take.

And I really don't want to find out.

Be assured, I'm okay. I'm in pain and trying to deal with that and I'm unhappy about being temporarily without transportation, but really, it could have been so much worse. No one had to be carted away by ambulance and both vehicles were insured.

This just really sucks.

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

Instagram Wednesday: Sister Time

I was trying to figure out what to post today.

And then I remembered that it's Wednesday. Which means it's Instagram Wednesday.

So I looked at all the threes of pictures I took this week on Instagram and thought, I really need to take more pictures.

Which seems to be a thought I have EVERY week.

One of these days I might actually start doing it...

Anyway. Saturday we had a family party at my aunt's house. A reunion type party. And it was awesome. Except you wouldn't know that by scrolling through my camera because I managed to not take a single photo of the awesomeness of my family.

(This is NOT the side of the family that stirred up all that drama around my grandmother's funeral a couple of weeks ago.)

So I don't really have any pictures of the reunion. Except this one. My sister hates it, but it makes me smile. I stole her phone and downloaded Instagram for her and made her sign up. And she pretty much loves it now. But I had to show her the ropes, so I took this quick pic of her:

And that's when I realized that Instagram needs some kind of red eye correcting option.

(Hey, Mark Zuckerberg. Now that you own Instagram, can you get working on that??)

So this is my big Instagram offering today. And if you'd like to follow my darling little sister, you can find her at epete32. If you're interested in following the frolicking summer adventures of a soon-to-be-college sophomore who is most decidedly NOT wild.

And if you have an Instagram/Wordless Wednesday/other photo-rific post to share, link up!

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

In Memoriam: The Cancelled Shows of 2012

The television landscape is going to look dramatically different this fall.

Last week, I received update after dreaded update as one series after another was axed by its network.

For an example of the bloodbath that happened in executive boardrooms, ABC is only keeping 7 shows. SEVEN. And four of them are comedies. That's a lot of prime time programming slots to fill.

Year after year, there's always a favorite or two that reach the end of the road. But there are many more that just don't perform to the expectations of the people that decisions about what we're going to watch.

This post is in memory of all the shows I loved this year that have, for one reason or another, aired their final episodes. It's a pretty sad list.

I mean, the list makes me sad. The shows themselves weren't sad. Mostly. Although some of them were sad in that sarcastic way that really means pathetic and awful.

Whatever. Okay. Here we go:

Awake, NBC

I only watched the first two episodes, but I liked where it was headed and thought I might catch up. I guess not.

The River, ABC

This series, from the ~~crazy~~ guy behind the Paranormal Activity movies was off to a very slow start. But after the first few episodes, I was really into it and I'm disappointed I never got to see the finale.

Terra Nova, Fox

Honestly, I watched this because it was the only thing on Mondays at 8pm that didn't bore or annoy me. But toward the end it started to get pretty good and I was actually hoping for a Season 2. Oh well.

Ringer, CW

Other than the fact that the characters never could decide whether to pronounce it "SioBhan" or "SioVhan", this was a pretty good series that had a lot of potential. Too bad.

CSI: Miami, CBS

I knew CBS was planning to cancel a CSI series this year, but I really didn't think it would be Miami. Which, coincidentally, was the only one I ever watched with any consistency. It's been a couple of seasons, but I used to watch it every week and always liked it. But now it's over. Crazy.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC

When it moved to Friday nights a few months ago, I knew its days were numbered. And it's certainly run its course. There are only so many stories you can tell. Especially when there are a heck of a lot of deserving families. But the best thing about this show wasn't the new houses and the fancy gadgets. It was that service was put into the prime time spotlight. And a lot of great causes and organizations got some deserved and needed attention.

GCB, ABC

I'm surprised and disappointed that GCB has been cancelled, and so quickly. While it wasn't without its issues, I kind of loved it. Funny and delightful and full of Kristin Chenoweth, I'm actually going to miss this show in the fall.

A Gifted Man, CBS

I knew it was unlikely this Patrick Wilson series would get a second season pickup, and it wasn't that big of a surprise. Although the premise was good and the cast was awesome, there were some pacing and writing problems that just never seemed to get worked out. I will definitely miss Patrick being on my TV every week, though.

Chuck, NBC

For five years, I was pleasantly surprised every time Chuck got renewed. One of the things that made it awesome was that the showrunners always expected early cancellation, so they held nothing back. Crazy storylines full of imagination and the most outrageous situations made this one of the...uh...funnest shows on TV. Plus, I pretty much love anything with Adam Baldwin in the cast. He makes everything better.

One Tree Hill, CW

I'm pretty sure I've seen every single episode of One Tree Hill ever. It had its ups and downs and I was one of those that thought the show would never survive once power couple Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Peyton (Hillary Burton) split. But it survived and thrived and ended when it needed to, but also left me wanting more. I loved the dialogue and the characters, but most of all I loved the town of Tree Hill. I want to live there.

Desperate Housewives, ABC

I remember when the promos first started airing for this new Teri Hatcher series. It looked bad. Really, really bad. On the night of the premier, there was nothing else on TV, so when Extreme Home Makeover was over and Desperate Housewives started, I didn't change the channel. And I'm so glad I didn't. For 8 years I laughed and cried and fretted and speculated and loved it. Even through the not-as-good years. And though I think this show has run its course and it is a good time to say good bye, I'm going to miss the ladies (and men) of Wisteria Lane and think of them fondly from time to time.

The network slashings were pretty extensive this year. Here is the complete (so far) list of series that were cancelled or otherwise brought to an end in the 2011-2012 season:

Alcatraz (Fox)
Allen Gregory (Fox)
Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC)
Awake (NBC)
Best Friends Forever (NBC)
Bent (NBC)
Breaking In (Fox)
Charlie’s Angels (ABC)
Chuck (NBC)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
The Finder (Fox)
The Firm (NBC)
Free Agents (NBC)
GCB (ABC)
A Gifted Man (CBS)
H8R (CW)
Harry’s Law (NBC)
House (Fox)
I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox)
Man Up! (ABC)
Missing (ABC)
Napoleon Dynamite (Fox)
NYC 22 (CBS)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Pan Am (ABC)
The Playboy Club (NBC)
Prime Suspect (NBC)
Remodeled (CW)
Ringer (CW)
The River (ABC)
Rob (CBS)
The Secret Circle (CW)
Terra Nova (Fox)
Unforgettable (CBS)
Work It (ABC)

Which of your favorites won't be coming back? And which ones are you glad to see disappear?

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

Checking In: Project 52, Week of May 14

Wow.

It's been quite an eventful couple of weeks.

There was a certain choir concert that was a smashing success. Barely more than 24 hours later, my grandmother passed away.

That was accompanied by funeral arranging and family drama and then followed up by a week of doing nothing more than going to work, pajamas by 6pm and restless sleep full of nightmares and stress dreams.

All that to say, I haven't crossed anything off my Project 52 list in a while and I'm really feeling it.

I miss that feeling of accomplishment.

And since my over-scheduled life has suddenly become shockingly unscheduled, I have all the time in the world (after 4:30pm Monday-Friday) to take that list and knock out a few things. Things like attending a singles' event and riding in a hot air balloon. And writing. There will be lots and lots of writing.

Last week when I was looking over my empty calendar, I wondered what I could possibly do with all that free time. And then I pulled up my list and smiled.

I've decided to use this time as the gift it is. Time for me. Time to make some changes and rediscover my priorities. And to do some things that I want to do just because I want to do them.

Starting now.

How have you been doing on Project 52? I'm sure you have lots of progress to report, so link up and share!

You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!

What I Just Watched at the Theater

Dark Shadows--This movie was just plain delightful for me. Funny and campy and I think I've finally found a vampire to love.
The Avengers--Good movie. Lots of fun. Some of the fight sequences felt like they dragged a bit, but the characters came together perfectly and Joss Whedon's dialogue is perfect. Saw it in 3D and it was worth the extra 3 bucks.
The Cabin in the Woods--This takes that creepy-cabin-by-the-lake story and gives it a big, weird twist. It was a fun movie to watch, but not my favorite project from the Whedon-verse. Again, great dialogue, though. Plus, Chris Hemsworth. I mean, hello.

What I Just Finished Reading

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King--I just am having a really hard time getting into the Dark Tower series. I know people love them, but I'm not so sure they're for me.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson--It took awhile to get into this, but once I did I could NOT put it down. Great mystery. Fascinating characters. A great story overall!
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin--A pretty simple and straightforward memoir, but a really nice look at happiness, what it is, and how to have more of it in everyday life. I really liked this book and read it just when I needed to.
Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson--A fun story with great characters, witty dialogue, and situations that are believable without being mundane. It's a perfect choice if you want to kick back with a happy story that will surely make you smile.