Reading the Signs

I heard birds singing this morning. The day was dawning as I walked outside and I couldn't help but notice several birds chirping and singing. At the moment, that sensory input of the coming of spring and lovely visuals of happy birds flitting about is in stark contrast to all the other input I've taken in lately.

Number one: at work, we are in the worst of preconference mode. Today I got into a near brawl with a coworker because someone's name was spelled wrong on a plaque. The guy's middle name is J - not J. (period). We're now arguing over a period - minutiae! 

Then, there's the news. Yesterday I find out that every glass of wine I have enjoyed over the past few years (and I have REALLY enjoyed them) was actually a carcinogen that I poured into my body. And that I should stop doing that. Now. Before I get cancer of the breast, liver, rectum, and everything between my mouth and stomach. Wonderful. 

There's also the news about the danger to anyone who has ever downloaded any kind of music, movies, etc. Apparently it opens up every file on your computer to anyone who wants it. 

I am just ready to throw my hands up. Thank goodness for the birds. Oh - and for Wii Ski. I LOVE that game and there is nothing like shushing down the (imaginary) slopes after a tough day. 

Sigh... 

Double Standard

As I was making dinner, the pot I was planning to use for the broccoli had a suspiciously loose handle. So much so that a quick repair was in order. I am very much a "do it yourself" kind of girl. I LOVE tackling minor repair projects and hope that my girls will follow my lead. So, I pulled out my tool box and grabbed the girl who was closest at the moment - Claire. I asked her to "figure out" what was wrong with the pot and then how to fix it. It took her a few minutes - and a few hints - but she got it. 

I make it a point to show all three of my girls how to do their own quick repairs, so I congratulated myself for taking advantage of yet another learning opportunity. Then I realized that I really didn't make the same provisions for my one son. Uh oh - I guess I just assumed that boys learn those things through osmosis - or do they? Yikes, it appears that I have created my very own double standards. Three girls who can do repairs and one boy who is on his own. 

Facebook - The Insidious Obsession

Lately, I've found that I haven't had as much time to blog. Why? Because suddenly I got a flood of new "friends" on Facebook and I've been using all my "lazy surfing time" (and there's not much of that) to follow their lives. I've stumbled onto several friends from high school and had a great time catching up on what's been going on with them for the past, oh, 30 years! I've also joined a group for people who were on our first adoption trip to China and really enjoyed seeing some of the posted photos from that first trip.

I have to say, that it's been fun for me. I am a natural extrovert, but I'm not always good with people face-to-face. So this type of venue - electronic friendship is a great compromise for me. I've even (finally) convinced my dear husband to take the plunge and create a profile. 

There was even an article in The Washington Post this morning, an examination of why people get hooked into sites like Facebook. Apparently, we like to draw attention to ourselves. Actually, that's probably fairly accurate.