THIS HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH!

 

I am still just REELING over the fact that one of my dreams has come true.

 

Last Thursday I went to see A Christmas Story on Broadway because my fabulous friend Nick Gaswirth was making his Broadway debut! 

 

The show was adorable and wonderful and they had REAL BLOODHOUNDS for the Bumpus hounds!  I mean, honestly, you won me over right there. 

 

But then, after the show, the most amazing thing happened.  I met my TV Dad. 

 

My TV dad, you say?  What the heck am I talking about?

 

Ok, so here's my Dad:

 

 

And here's my TV Dad:



 

That, my friends, is Dan Lauria.  You may recognize him from a certain late 80's/early 90's television show called THE WONDER YEARS.

 

I have loved this man ever since I first saw him on TV because he has always reminded me of my father.  In later years, I have had this feeling confirmed by multiple boyfriends telling me "Your dad looks like the dad from The Wonder Years." 

 

I know.  I know he does.  That's why I cry anytime his character on TV (or in movies) goes through anything more difficult than a papercut.  He is my dad, just on TV.

 

You're judging me now, aren't you?

 

Whatever.

 

Anyway, I posted the picture of Dan Lauria to my facebook the next day because I was so darn excited (excited enough to write this whole blog post about it...which is turning out to be longer than most posts I write...what does that tell you?) - and I kid you not, multiple people thought it WAS my dad in the photo.  (read my comment and you would've realized that wasn't the case, but that's fine.)

 

No, it's not like they were twins separated at birth, but my gosh, my dad couldn't have a better celebrity doppleganger.  And I got to meet him.  And he was SO NICE.  And I'm still really excited about it.

 

So, there you have it.  That happened.  And I can cross that magical dream of mine off my list.  Because...it SERIOUSLY HAPPENED.

 

Ok, I'm done now. 

 

Just don't forget that it happened, ok?  Cause it did.  It really did.



I am considering....

(Hey, look!  Another post that isn't just a photo-a-day!  So rare!  So special!)

I am considering...going back to facebook. 

I know, shocking, right? 

It's been almost a year.  (I believe it will be a year in April?  I don't know...close to it, if not...)  And the break has been...well, amazing.  It was just so good to take some time away and focus on myself.  I have relished not being able to compare my daily life to that of my friends.  It makes me feel more positive about where I am. 

But, at the same time...I feel like I'm missing out on a lot.  My friends are having babies (Congrats Janey!!!!) and getting married and I find out about it like way after the fact.  Plus - sometimes I think of someone and want to reach out and say hi when I realize "Oh....I don't have their email address....or their cell number apparently..." And though maybe we aren't that good of friends if that's the case....I still would like to send 'em a hello.

If I do go back, I think I'll probably lay low for a little while...try to limit my time on it.  Because it really is nice not having that constant craziness of updates in my life.  (I have twitter...and that I can like, totally leave and come back and feel fine...I feel like that's sort of good enough!  It's just....not all my friends are on twitter.)

I'm torn.  I want to go back, but I don't.  But I do.  But I don't. 

Plus it's really fun to tell people I don't have facebook.  The reaction is always amusing.  Why is it so shocking to not be on this one particular social network?  And yet...it is shocking.  Because everyone and their mom (quite literally) is on it. 

I haven't made my decision yet...and if I do go back, it probably won't be until April/May because I'm determined to make sure I go a year without it.  :) 

I should write a book called "My Year Without Facebook".  Would you read it?  Would facebook let me advertise on their site? 

I want to know your thoughts, dear reader.  Can I survive without it in a world where facebook is rapidly becoming our primary means of communication with those not on our speeddial?  Are the friends I cannot contact at the moment worth giving up my peace and quiet for?  WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?!  (Sorry, generational outburst....remember when we used to call our friends if we wanted to tell them something?  Or better yet, ring their doorbells and ask if they could come out and play?  Well, those days are over folks.)

To Facebook Or Not To Facebook?

Maybe you all remember reading THIS BLOG POST about how I deactivated my facebook.  I told myself I'd like to stay off facebook until November 1st.  And I'm what, 3 days away from that deadline, and by gum, I've done it. 

Honestly, I've really enjoyed NOT having facebook.  I found myself always comparing my life to everyone else's when I was on there.  And it was making me unhappy.  So and so is getting married.  So and so is having babies.  So and so got a great new job.  So and so booked this show.  So and so traveled here and there. 

I was JEALOUS, alright?! 

What was my year like last year?

Lauren got divorced.  Lauren's job is mediocre.  Lauren's weight goes up and down.  Lauren really likes taking pictures of her dogs because that's who she spends most of her time with.

Ok, ok, that's a little melodramatic, but you get the idea.  That's where my mind would go. 

But here's the thing - it has seriously made me SO out of the loop.  Like SERIOUSLY out of the loop about things.  Those friends who got married?  I haven't seen pictures of the wedding!  Those friends that had babies?  Some sent me announcements, but I haven't gotten any updates!  (not their fault at all, they're busy people and that's why they post it on FACEBOOK!)  But the holidays are coming (and my birthday - wink wink!) and I am an actual Christmas (Or Holiday or Winter Solstice, what have you) Card Sender and I will have a much shorter list of cards this year unless I can hop back on that baby and remind people to send me their address! (plus it's totally saved in my inbox...y'know facebook saves all of your info if you deactivate...I think for a certain number of years...good for them.  makes my life easier!)

So I can't decide.  Go back or don't go back.  Connect or stay blissfully unaware. 

I've also thought about how much easier it is to send an invitation if I decide to do a birthday party...I'd forget so many friends by just using my cell phone.  I seriously didn't realize how many people's numbers I DIDN'T have in my cell before. 

Now, I have some options here...

• I could go back full force and bask in all of facebook's glory.

• I could go back but really limit how often I'm on there and how active I am.

• I could go back temporarily and then deactivate again.

• I could not go back at all and just stay out of touch.

Folks, I need opinions on this.  For reals.  I'm so torn...it's silly, I suppose.  But I miss some of my friends! 

Help me make this decision!  I've been so strong and I'm super proud of staying off for the time I have...but come Nov 2...should I go back?

Whoa. Big. Deal.

I deactivated my facebook.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it. And I fully intend to keep it deactivated until at least November 1st. I'm putting this in public on the blog so if I come back before, y'all can yell at me.

I'm sure you're wondering why...and I have my reasons, and they're weird and silly and superficial and I think it's better I don't share them. Except to say, I just need a break from it.

I'm still on twitter, if y'all wanna follow me there...but there's no need, really, because I think I'll be blogging A LOT more often since I don't have facebook to take up all my time.

I will go back eventually, I'm sure. But I'd like to see how I do without it. I'm also curious to see who I stay in contact with... It's interesting to think about what the world was like before facebook...and though I've still got my cell and my email and what-have-you...I think this will be a very good way for me to break away from the whole technology take-over that's happened.

Anywho...if anyone needs my cell/email/whatevs, just comment and ask me!

PS: Abby - if you see this, what is that nail thing you're talking about? I got all depressed and bit my nails until they were dead since my manicures were failing. I want to hear more of this magic nail thing.

PPS: Seriously? I don't have facebook anymore. This is crazy.

Lovies!

I didn't do it.

I didn't really stay away from facebook completely...but I did a dang good job! Now I am trying to still go easy on it. No facebook while at work, obviously, and very little at night. Only when I'm bored on my phone. This is good for me.

Of course, give up one and start another. I've gotten really into twitter. I still don't understand it (What the heck is a hashtag and how do you use it?!) but I love reading people's really dumb or random thoughts or updates. Some of my friends are super hilarious.

Ok, really, I'm just writing this because I really don't want to do the thing I'm supposed to be doing right now. And that's wrong. I shouldn't be procrastinating. So I'm going to stop writing now and get back to what it is I should be doing.

But hey...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ok, ok, one more thing: My Resolution.

I have decided I need to eat LESS meat. I eat meat at nearly every lunch and dinner. And it's not healthy. It's tough, but right now I am down to meat only 3 days a week. I've planned my dinners (because that's the toughest meal for me) for the week and so far, so good!

I'm going to try to work it down to 2 days a week and then 1...but I figure baby-steps are the way to go here. Then once I'm down to very little meat, I'm also going to cut out UNHEALTHY dairy. I eat a LOT of cheese. Like a freakish amount of cheese, when I think about it. So, I need to do away with that.

And probably ice cream. Shouldn't have that almost every day.

Basically I'm hoping I can get to a point where I am near-vegan.

And if you have any tips or anything that can help, I'm open to it. I'm also open to someone showing me some video about how slaughterhouses work and maybe then I won't want ANY meat at all...but the idea of that also really scares me...so I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But if you'll hold my hand through it, maybe.

Ok. Really though, back to the real world.

Peace!