Breaktime Over.

Ok, well I took a few days off after finishing my 365 days of photos.  (Did I really do that?  I did, didn't I?  That was cool.) 

But now, I have a decision.  What is this blog going to be now?  I'm back on facebook (cautiously...I am cautiously making my way back...I don't like it that much anymore, really...) and I am still on twitter and I guess I can post whatever instagram photos I happen to take...but...why keep the blog then?  When you can read up on me anywhere else?  Why will my blog be here?

If anyone has a good answer or even a direction to point me in...that'd be great.

Happy Friday to you all.  This weekend is the Big Apple BBQ Block Party and I couldn't be more excited.  I love this weekend more than pretty much all weekends in NYC.  Let's hope it lives up to my super high expectations.

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.)

Please Help Me Fight AIDS

Friends, Readers, Countrymen - Lend me your Wallets!

I am participating in AIDS Walk New York.  My team the "Hairy Backs" (don't ask...I didn't name it...) and I are really excited to walk this year! I have set an ambitious fundraising goal and I need your help reaching it!

Some background:

AIDS Walk New York, the world’s largest single-day AIDS fundraising event, benefits GMHC and more than 40 other AIDS service organizations in the tri-state area.  GMHC is the nation’s oldest and most comprehensive AIDS service organization, serving approximately 15,000 people living with HIV and AIDS each year.  The organization reaches countless more locally and nationally, through its prevention and advocacy work.

Although there has been some success with drug treatments and their ability to prolong the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS, they do not work for everyone, nor are they accessible to everyone.  These treatments can take their toll physically, mentally, and financially. I am also concerned by the alarming rate of new HIV infections in the New York City youth.  There remains an urgent need for comprehensive prevention programs that serve youth with diverse language and cultural backgrounds. The money we raise at AIDS Walk New York will help those in need living with the disease while supporting vital prevention efforts in New York City and beyond. 

Here's your part:

I would be so grateful your help.  Please sponsor me for AIDS Walk New York.  Just click on the link below to visit my personal fundraising web page.  It’s quick, easy, and safe to make a donation online with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. 

(And by the way... GMHC, the primary beneficiary of AIDS Walk New York, is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) New York nonprofit corporation. Tax ID #13-3130146. All donations are tax deductible. )


After making your donation, you may be able to double your donation with a matching gift!  Please consult your human resources department, or use the matching gift search engine on the AIDS Walk New York website, to find out if your company has a matching gift program!

Thank you for supporting AIDS Walk New York and for helping put an end to this epidemic.  You can help me make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. 

Sincerely,
Lauren

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support AIDS Walk New York

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?

Last Post Today, I Promise...

Also - I've signed up for my second 5K! :) Again for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Please please please help me reach my (fairly small) funraising goal of $150!

Go here:

Lauren's Personal 5K Pledge Page

And thank you thank you thank you in advance!!!

Lovies!

Cannot. Decide.

I think these four are my favorites? Maybe? I am having serious trouble deciding. Any thoughts, blog world?

LW_107

LW_110

LW_111

LW_02

Tell me, help me!! Pleeeease!

Lovies.

Privacy

I can't decide if I want to make my blog public again, or keep it private.

I keep hearing of all these people who read it before and they're all sad they can't anymore...I tell them to just give me their email address and I'll add them, but they forget or what have you and...I don't know. I just felt strange having my world/inner most thoughts on display but...then why did I have a blog at all if I had an issue with that?

I don't know.

What do you think?

Oh my gosh, what is WRONG with me?!

First: I stopped running, apparently. I ran on Sunday and I haven't run since. And guess what? THE RACE IS ON SATURDAY. That's 2, COUNT 'EM 2, days from now....

Last night I said "ok Lauren, get up in the morning and run and you can go into work a few minutes late!" Which turned into...Sleep in til 8:40...still be late for work, but no running.

Ugh.

Nothing will get me motivated and things keep just popping up to distract me! I got stuck at work on Monday, had an audition after work Tuesday, a callback after work Wednesday and now tonight I'm seeing MEMPHIS...so there goes this week.

PS: Callback? Nothing fab. Weird company and they are looking for 3 women out of the 30 at the callback which lasted about 3 hours. ...Can you say, "hey, you're kind of wasting my time?"

Yup, you can.

Anywho, I'll shut up about running for a minute.

I'm having some trouble deciding...where to go, what to do next...I just have no idea. I think I want to move to Austin? But there's really no major reason aside from my family. Part of me doesn't want to give up on "the dream" but part of me is like "if I leave NY, I'll probably get to work MORE because there's less competition." I don't know.

Any ideas for me? Careers to pursue? Places to go? Things to try? I've run out of steam trying to think of things or ideas.

OH: PLEASE SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME GOOD RUNNING TUNES! I need 'em for Saturday.

Ok, back to work now! Gotta be productive in SOME way today!

1.2 Miles

That's the goal after work today. Just 1.2...I'm going to slowly work my way up .2 miles at a time. I figure I can handle that.

We'll see if I can be disciplined enough to stay on schedule.

Anyone have running tips for me? And racing tips for me? Especially because there's no bag check at this race...so I'm sort of nervous. I will have to layer clothes but I'm not sure what the weather will be like yet...and I'm sure there will be water stations and what-have-you, but should I still bring water? I have no idea! Should I do ear phones or no ear phones? This isn't a race with a big crowd of spectators so I don't feel like I'd be missing out on the cheering or anything...

And on that note, does anyone have any good running playlists they wanna throw my way? :)

And how do I keep myself psyched for this? I feel like in a week or two I'll be totally bored and I won't want to do it anymore. Or I'll just get lazy. How do I keep it fresh?

Completely Unrelated Tidbit: Did you know that in India women pierce the outside of the left nostril because it's supposed to make childbirth easier? Because Ayurvedic medicine associates the location with the female reproductive organs. (Thanks Wikipedia!)

I never knew the origin of the custom. I wonder if it works. Get a nose ring...labor's a breeze? (Ci - perhaps try this next time? hehe!) I think it's worth a try!

Buh-bye.