The Blizzard of 2013: Weather We Want It Or Not

Cell phone is charging, beer is in the fridge. I think I've done all I can in anticipation of the "Blizzard of '13."
ugh.

I'm sorry but is someone in charge not paying attention. This is the Northeast. We have already had one natural disaster for the year in the form of Hurricane Sandy. We are now in waiting mode for the biggest Nor'easter of the century...or so they say. Three days ago we were predicted to get a few inches.

Enough with the drama. People have plans, we don't need this shit

Yesterday afternoon the ace weatherpeople said the snow/ice mix would begin very early in the AM. So I battled the zoo at Shop Rite last night instead of dealing with the lunatics AND the weather in the morning. Guess what, so far...nothing.

Oh, it's coming, I don't think they're wrong about that, but now it seems the timing will eat into a lot more of the weekend than we first thought. So, we sit and wait and look out the window for the signs that the most recent Snowmaggedon has arrived.

Now, let us pray to the technology gods that we don't lost power or internet.

Happy shoveling.

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Sniglisms: Part 1

In our first chapter of Sniglisms, I offer two stories while distinct in their subject matter are definitely sailing on the same ocean.


Story #1: Internet Use Disorder. Oh c'mon, you knew it was coming. I'm just surprised it's taken so long. We now have a name for the feeling of anxiety or shakiness we may experience when we are yanked off the internet...you know, offline. Are we ever offline anymore? Apparently gamers are the ones most affected by this new disorder, which goes by the nickname IUD. Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we already used that little trifecta of letters? I'd hate for a health care professional to get the two confused.

Now this little affliction is so new, they don't even know if it is an actual disorder or if it will need treatment. Scientists believe this internet addition may damage the same areas of the brain as drug and alcohol addiction. It appears to affect processing of emotions, executive thinking skills, attention span and cognitive control. You know, pretty much everything you need to be a stable human being. The younger generations are so screwed.

Here's the full story: Internet Addiction

Story #2: Writers are more prone to mental illness. huh, Imagine that. I thank my beautiful niece for this story...I think there was something she was trying to tell me.

A study done in Sweden has concluded that creative people are the craziest. They needed to do a study on this? Have they never done any actual...reading? Writers are nuts. Period. We write because we hear voices, shit did I say that out loud, inside us with lots to say. So we say it...in words.

Well, it seems the study says writers in particular, are the ones most likely to be bi-polar, clinically depressed, schizophrenic and be addicted to something or other... the internet perhaps? Do you see where I'm going here?

Writers. On the outside they seem to be pretty normal, but when you read some of their work you really start to see they are no-doubt-about-it, residing in another universe. Sane people just don't have those thoughts...or do they?

With so many writers out there who write and are published primarily on the internet, does it mean they are doubly afflicted? This is not good.

 I am a writer. I write for the internet. I am screwed.

Read the story: Writers are crazy or something like that.

To Pin Or Not To Pin

So have you heard of Pinterest? Most women have, men...not so much. If you haven't, this is it in a nutshell. It is another internet vacuum which sucks you in and just like twitter, refuses to let you see the light of day...ever again.

But, it has some really cool pictures. And recipes, and ideas. The aim is to create theme boards and either upload pictures (pins), search the internet for pictures or search Pinterest itself for pictures. You then can like someone else's pin (sort of like coveting your neighbors whatever) or you can take that pin and pin it onto your own theme board. And just like every other social networking thing...you follow either people or their specific boards.

Basically, it's like creating photo albums of everything you wish you owned, places you could go, things to eat, crafts to make, lessons to learn...basically anything which makes you happy.  And just like some of those insanely delicious looking desserts...Pinterest is highly addictive.  Got a lull in your day, just go check out some new pins. It is fun, I'll grant you that. And some of the photography is absolutely breathtaking.

Now, from what I've seen in the month or so I have been "pinning," some people have way too much freakin' time on their hands. Some of the crafts for example, are so tedious...I would sooner pull out my fingernails than get involved with these projects. And the recipes...very big on variations of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and desserts using one of God's most perfect foods...Oreo's.

Now I quite enjoy this little adventure. It's like being back in grammar school and making collages. I was really good at that. Not really having any artistic ability, I did have an eye, so putting together a mosaic was something that was doable.

So now I find at the end of the day when I should do at least one more constructive thing, I sit with my laptop scanning through hundreds and hundreds of photographs for no other purpose than to build my own little fantasy land.

And you know what...that's fine by me.

OMG look at those shoes...repin.

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