social networking

i think i may have a problem. i think i am addicted to social networking sites and i don't really care that i am. on average, i likely check facebook about 7-10 times per day...now, it's easier for me because i sit in front of a non-firewalled computer for 8 hours on a working day and use fb to take a break from tedious editing, or to vent about tedious co-workers. it's not that i really see this as a problem...modern gadgetry and the internet enable us, nay, encourage us to be plugged in at all times. while some seem to run away from tech, i embrace our new world order. my personal relationships don't suffer as a result of time spent on social networks, in fact they flourish. professionally, i don't have any difficulty meeting deadlines and accomplish more than any other colleague in the office. so what the what then?

i think the only area of social networking that i have the tiniest issue with is that every one of my 308 friends on fb, my 74 friends on myspace, and my 23 twitter followers (still growing) are aware of how much i use fb, twitter, etc.

i decided it was time to reevaluate my 'friends' list and purge those who i haven't spoken to in person, or really communicated with since first adding them to the list. i started to work through the list, trying to be diligent and cutthroat in my decisions. a former co-worker here, a high school friend there, an friend of a friend, someone who passed away and still has a fb account (a little creepy as its been updated recently) i was relentless, hacking and slashing through the list to clear the clutter from my pages. i compiled my list of 'removes' but just as i was about to start deleting them, i started to think about where i knew this person from and memories flashed in my mind. i moved to the next person, but the same happened again and again as i read through the list. if i cut them, this would be final. this would be the last time i contacted them, knew what they were up to, saw what they looked like, and a lot of other things that social networks allow us to do. in essence, i was saying goodbye. was i ready for such a bold move? i think i've reached a point in life that i will never know more people than i do now, sort of a relationship plateau. it's not that i won't meet more people, but you do start to lose people you know as you age (depressing as that is) i know i could always add them again, but how would i explain that?

yeah, sorry, i cut you out of my life but i've changed my mind. please add me again! cheers. ryan

in the end, i didn't have the heart to cut these people out...at some point and time, these people were part of my life. whether it be a reason, a season, or a lifetime i stand by the people i know and if they get to see what i'm up to 7-10 times per day, it's only because i'm actually interested in how and what they are doing as well. overall, the list is pretty selective as i've never been a friend collector (some of my friends have 4,000+ "friends" on their lists) i mean, if i didn't talk to you in high school or when we worked together, do you honestly think i would want to know what you are up to now?

someday i might be able to harden my heart and cut out the riff raff, but today is not that day. for now, i'm just going to enjoy social networking for what it is; a means to creep on everyone i know and shamelessly self-promote every part of my life in excruciating detail. ahhh...sharing is fun.

also known as

every couple out there has some pet name that they call each other. some of these pet names are the generic 'sweetie' or 'honey'. these are g-rated and often said in public, no matter the company. then, there are those pet names which are just between the couple. this can be specific to a person, or possibly a body part. the list of names are many and unique and couldn't possibly be listed here. however, i do have a few names to share with you.
when you've been together with someone as long as i've been with elisha, using the same petname over and over is a little tedious. mine have changed for elisha about as often as i can think of them...sometimes they stick, sometimes they are just a fad.
so here is a compendium of aliases for my beloved...

elisha weishar aka eliska veizer aka faloola aka leeshie loo aka leeloo aka kitten kaboo aka kitten aka papillon aka princess stinkington aka shitska malitska aka jiminy jillickers aka baby bird aka bitch bird aka bossy bird aka b-bird aka beebs aka creamy butters aka....

i'm drawing a blank but i know there have been many, many more. and this isn't a one-sided deal, either...she's come up with her share for me...here are a few i can think of off the top of my head...
hunners, sweeters, shitters (?) furry bear, and...and...that's all i can think of for now. ok, so i'm a little more imaginative with my pet names, but she has come up with some that suit pretty well. anyway, it's all in good fun tho i'm not that crazy about 'shitters'.

halloweeny

just a quick update that monster massive was awesome! had a great time, great music and spent it with some great people in great costumes. everything was...great. my only complaint was that it was over too soon. oh well, will definitely be going back next year for more fun and games.
not much else going on...going out for a quick birthday drink for a friend this evening and then spending the rest of the weekend laying low due to low funds and low energy. thought i was getting paid on monday, but turns out my math still sucks and i figured out the wrong day, so have to wait til wednesday now. not that payday is much of a joyous occassion this time 'round...there's the pesky international flight to pay for amongst a few other things such as local bills...once, just once, i would really like my money to actually be my money. it seems every time it looks as though i'll be getting ahead for the month, something comes up like a trip back to canada, or halloween, or birthdays and there just isn't enough cash to go around. i remember the days when i could go out and blow 10,000NT and not bat an eye but these days are becoming a hazy dream. i hate having the responsibles all the time, but i guess that's part of adulthood.
anyway, didn't want this to become a rant about money, so i'll sign off for now. longer post to follow on the weekend.

mending fences and building bridges

my last post i briefly touched on a situation between myself and a couple of friends which has been ongoing for some time. just to update, i finally had the 'talk' with these friends. again, i think it's only right that i don't go into great detail or name the friends, but the current situation really went back a lot further than i thought. about the time when i left taiwan. so, basically three years of shit had to brought kicking and screaming into the present in order to forge ahead into the future. it was a long conversation, full of tears and anger, but everything that needed to be said was said and i feel better for doing it. it also made me realize just how my decisions at the time really laid the foundation for friendship this time around...it's also made me realize that i may preach openness when it comes to communication, but i don't always practice it.
in the end, we all felt better for getting things off our chest and have decided that it's time to make a new start. reset. clean slate. friendship isn't always the dizzying highs and if there are problems, we need to communicate them to each other. it's going to time and effort, but the rewards in the end are nothing short of untold riches...and i feel damn good about that.
the party this weekend was great. i was a little worried about the guest list. i know the invitees, but there has always been a buffer friend between us so it always feels a little weird hanging out for the first time. honestly, the awkwardness evaporated in about ten seconds and it was just a good time. everyone kept commenting on how nice it was to hang out with some different people and what a good job leesh and i did in bringing together an excellent group. so, a huge success and now i have built or at least strengthened all these new relationships.
feels great to be sailing on the 'friend' ship once more.

fall update

another month has passed and once again, i've neglected my blog. i've simply run out of excuses when it comes to updating and the real truth is, there really isn't all that much to report. however, this tiny voice inside me is urging me to post and post i shall to silence the wee bastard. and away we go...
i have been laying low over the last month. it's been another month of saving cash, well maybe not saving, but not spending. whichever way you want to slice it, i haven't been out and it's actually felt pretty good. more energy, mental clarity and more drive to do things. it kind of came at a good time as well because there really hasn't been much going on...just the time of year when school is back in full swing and halloween parties are still a long way off.
having the last month off from the social scene has also given me some time to re evaluate the people who i spend time with. without going into too much detail, there are some issues surrounding a couple individuals that need to be dealt with, but then i thought that i need to stop wasting time and energy thinking about these people all the time. i accommodate waaaaaay too much and the results end up with me being cranky and drained emotionally. i always start with ways to change my behaviour, 'cos every problem has two sides to it. when it comes to friendship, i give one hundred percent but ask for that in return. is that too much to ask? i'm finding out that for some, it is too much. so, i'm turning over a new leaf and doing what i want to do from now on...invites will always be extended but come or don't....i don't need to beg.
enough about that...what else, what else...our long and treacherous love affair with honda canada is at an end. we officially no longer lease our car and it feels great. a whole year has gone by with making payments and insurance on a car that we neither need nor use. frees up a ton of money which can now be used to shore up the savings account. add that on top of my increased salary at my job and we be rolling in it.
speaking of work, i've now a month under my belt and feeling more settled and relaxed. the first two weeks were disorganized and me trying to find my bearings. then it got better and this week was great. i'm working on some really exciting projects and using my creativity at full volume...feels fantastic. it's a little hard to believe that i work for the same company because the departments are like night and day. the pace, the stress, the boss...she is a normal, human being with thoughts and dreams and just plain cool. it's so nice to work for someone that i understand and can respect.
up and coming is our long overdue housewarming party next saturday which promises to be a lot of fun. we're keeping it casual....just good company, good conversation and good times are the major themes of the night. as such, we're trying to put the finishing touches on the apartment....some art, fixtures, etc to get the place shipshape. halloween is also just around the bend and looks like we'll be attending monster massive which looks incredible....benny benassi is coming to town for it so it will be a deadly night of music. not too sure what i plan on being for halloween yet, but i am taking into consideration where i will be and what i will be getting up to. it needs to be simple, movable and no accessories this year. just a costume, some makeup and nothing more. skeleton is looking more and more appealing.
also purchased our flights home for christmas so very excited for that. only have about nine days at home, but it's cool...going to be nice to soak in all the holiday season spirit and see our families. the only crap part is that we will have to fly out on january first late in the evening in order to make it back in time for work. oh well, we might have a...ahem...delayed flight along the way? yeah. that'll do.
think that does it for now...will update again postparty.