Louise and 10mbf: The Drama Continues

Apparently 10mbf is spending the remainder of the week with us. When I asked Louise about it, she was stunned that I knew of his existence (apparently it’s a very hush-hush situation) and played it off like it was no big deal. I’m kind of scared that he’s going to slink across the hall and kill me while I’m asleep…I should probably lock the door. The thing that gets me about the whole situation is that Louise then went and told Cassie that I was being judgmental. Yes, Louise I am judging you, this is a VERY weird situation and I’m not comfortable. I’m not really comfortable having someone that you’ve met for no more than 10 minutes spending a few nights at my apartment. If she had a history with him, I think it would be different. I’m not sure how to handle this.
The question I pose today is this: In a situation where you are uncomfortable, how to you approach a change? Is there a simple way to get what you want without hurting or alienating people?

There isn’t always an easy answer…

XOXO - Maxine

Holy Schmoly!

I skipped my blog on Friday because I ended up taking a surprise trip to Albany to see the one and only, the legendary, the official queen of mean…LISA LAMPANELLI! Friends of mine called me around 5pm and told me of their plans to go up to the Palace Theater, an absolutely beautiful theater by the way, and invited me to tag along with them. At first I was a little weary about the whole thing because funds are tight right now, but I’d been having a rather stressful week and thought a break like this was well deserved.
As it turns out my weekend only got exponentially weirder from Friday on…Kyle and I finally got together on Saturday, and while I had a great time…it was weird. Have you ever been with someone you totally thought you’d connected with, only to find out that was NOT the case at all and the whole evening just looks weird in retrospect? That’s the rant on my weekend.
I do want to take a few minutes to touch on the latest development in the financial bailout drama. I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that the House has rejected the bailout (claiming to do so because too many voters were against it). I feel like I should be excited and that, in some weird way, my faith in humanity has been restored. The idea that seems to resonate throughout congress right now is that they don't feel its right to bail out renegade financial executives and companies. I found a quote that really just made me feel like maybe…just maybe, the country isn’t doomed: “Conservatives saw too much government interference in free markets and too high a price tag; liberals thought it provided too much help for Wall Street and not enough for distressed homeowners.” Wait a second, it seems like…no, this can’t be….BOTH sides are seeing eye to eye on something, it must be the apocalypse. I’ve also come across a new…fantastically hysterical drinking game relating to the presidential debates (link below). I suggest everyone checks it out.
Finally, I bring you news that really makes me laugh, although I don’t think I should be laughing. Last week a bunch of Somali pirates attacked and seized a Ukrainian ship off the coast of Africa. Somali is the world’s leader in piracy, weird, and about once a week they seize a ship. I really thought pirates were nearly non-existent and this little tidbit just made me chuckle.
Oh yeah…and there is a family in Arkansas that has 18 children. Why? Because they are religious zealots…Michelle Duggar, the fertile uterus aka mother of 18, said when asked if they will have more “We would love more. We really believe that each child is a gift from God. We would love to receive more gifts if the Lord sees fit. I guess we’ll just wait and see.”

The question I pose today is this: Have you ever laughed at something you knew was wrong to laugh at (ie - real pirates or Palin's unwed knocked up teeny-bopper? Did you feel guilty doing so?

Holy Shit…

XOXO - Maxine

For more information on the NON-existent bailout:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080929/pl_mcclatchy/3058710

For more the rules of the debate drinking game:
http://airamerica.com/maddow/blog/2008/sep/26/rules-tonights-debate-drinking-game

For more information on the US Navy vs. Pirates:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iBJRGljzO-MrwMKW5CFFMbkUIBVw

For more information on the Duggar family:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26942419/

A Thought on Mental Illness

Mental illness is often viewed in a negative light in today’s world. I find that this is partly because the media thrusts such a negative connotation on to the subject and partly because the world doesn’t understand mental illness or those it affects (and I’m not sure if we ever will). The social stigma associated with mental illness is a widespread problem and it is something I believe we, as a society, have control over.
The media often depicts those suffering from a mental illness as being incompetent, violent, and dangerous, and tends to leave out the accomplishments of those suffering from these illnesses. Movies like “As Good As It Gets” and television shows like “Monk” show people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder but those sufferers are often the butt of jokes, and don’t truly depict the daily struggles one encounters and the impact an illness like that has on daily life. However, certain movies like “Sybil”, which introduced the world to the horrifying reality of dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) and “Donnie Darko”, which shed light on the mental illness known as schizophrenia, do a fair job in animating the reality of such illnesses.
The societal impacts of revealing that one suffers from a mental illness are often too much for the sufferer to bear. The US Surgeon General stated in 1999 that: "Powerful and pervasive, stigma prevents people from acknowledging their own mental health problems, much less disclosing them to others.” With this being said, those brave enough to admit their illnesses to the public are often forced to pay for something that is out of their control. Employment discrimination is reported to play a significant part in the high rate of unemployment among those with a diagnosis of mental illness.
The idea that someone would be discriminated against for something they have little or no control over makes me disgusted, and I have come to see that people are not as open minded as they’d like to believe they are. With this being said the question I pose today is this: Have you ever, either advertantly or inadvertantly, discriminated against someone because they suffered from an illness be it mental or physical?

Imagine all the people, living life in peace…

XOXO - Maxine

For more information on mental illnesses:
http://www.nami.org/

The Gorilla in the Room

Well folks, it happened again…Louise went and did it again! Cassie, Louise, Matthew, and I went to this great little Italian restaurant in Cobble Hill and Louise made the entire evening horribly awkward. As the rest of us were engaging in friendly conversation and witty banter, Louise sat by her lonesome text messaging her “boyfriend.” I use quotes when referring to her boyfriend because Louise and Carl met online, no there is nothing wrong with that but here’s where it gets weird, Carl was going to a bar with friends on the other side of town and Louise met up with him, after about ten minutes Carl and Louise parted ways, however, they still talked.
Fast forward a few weeks and somehow they are an exclusive couple…How does that happen? I thought in order for two people to enter an exclusive relationship, as this one seems to be, the two in question should probably spend more than ten minutes together. What scares me about this is situation is the fact that if Carl doesn’t instantly respond to one of Louise’s text messages, she freaks out and becomes the ultimate “psychotic girlfriend.”
Because of the fast paced nature of this “relationship” I will either be referring to Carl as Louise’s’ “boyfriend” or as 10mbf (ten minute boyfriend). From what Cassie and I have observed about 10mbf, we have come to the conclusion that he is simply pursuing Louise for one thing and one thing only…sex, which is weird because the kind of crap she puts this poor guy through would usually be enough for most men to throw in the towel. I’m afraid that Louise doesn’t see this but I’m not going to clue her in on it for fear of her backlash. She's rather oblivious to the gorilla in the room, but hasn't everyone been guilty of that at one point or another?
The question I pose today is this: Has a friend of yours ever entered a relationship that you didn’t approve of and you kept your mouth shut? When said relationship fell apart, did you say “told ya’ so” or did you play the part of the comforting friend?

Hate to say I told you so…

XOXO - Maxine

McCaintics

Last week I was channel surfing and I found myself watching MSNBC, a favorite channel of mine mainly because of the dapper Keith Olbermann. Now, normally I just watch Countdown and I go on my merry way however, this particular day I found myself watching a show called “The Rachel Maddow Show” and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the show informative but it was also quite entertaining. Now it should come as no surprise that I would love Rachel Maddow because Keith Olbermann credits himself for pushing Maddow into getting her own show.
So, on this particular episode focused on the ever popular bashing of Presidential candidate John McCain in a segment called “John McCain: Week in Review.” Let me just say this was possibly the most inventive coupling of McCaintics I have ever seen. I found it amusing that McCain seems to believe that fish enjoy swimming around oil rigs, in fact he actually said “they, uh, the fish…ha, everywhere…they, they, the fish love to be around those rigs!” Seriously MCain…Seriously?
In other McCain news, I found it entertaining that he couldn’t place Spain the correct geographical location, that he also is adamant that Iraq and Pakistan share a boarder, that Checzlovakia still exsists (which it doesn’t), and he doesn’t understand the difference between the Sudan and Somalia. McCain, are you aware that being President of the United States not only includes running America but it also entails interaction with the rest of the world and it’s leaders?
With all that said, the question I pose today is this: Has there ever been a time in your life where you were misinformed on something and you publicly spoke about it only to find out later that you were completely wrong?

It’s the end of the world as we know it…

XOXO - Maxine


For more information on “The Rachel Maddow Show”:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/

For the “John McCain: Week in Review”:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26798523#26798523

Cruisin the Crimson Wave

Just when you think things are looking up, they take a turn down for the worst. I had been seriously flirting with Kyle, a gorgeous guy in my office building, and he finally got around to asking me out for drinks after work. We were set to go to “Angel’s Share” and cozy up to some cocktails (with the explicit hope of some serious between the sheets time) and then Mother Nature stepped in and slapped me in the face. That’s right…I got my period.
Isn’t it weird that when you pray and pray and pray for your period to come so you know you’re not “with child” Mother Nature takes her freaking time, however, when you have a super hot date and you need everything to fall into place perfectly, Mother Nature has no qualms about reaming her devilish little head into your life and fucking it up severely. Sometimes I seriously think whatever entity rules this thing has it out for me big time.
Needless to say, this blog is a short one as the cramps and cravings are controlling my every move today. So, without further adieu the question I pose today is this: Have you ever planned for an event only to have Mother Nature ruin it at the last second?

What a drag…dude

XOXO - Maxine

"The People Pleaser"

I couldn’t be more excited for the weekend…My roommate Cassie is celebrating her birthday this weekend as is my friend Jess. Now, being the artistic, creative, fabulous person that I am, I have volunteered to make not one, but two cakes for the celebrations. I realize to some baking two cakes wouldn’t seem like a big deal but I don’t just bake normal cakes, I’m an “Ace of Cakes” worshiper and every opportunity I get I like to test my culinary prowess. This weekend I’m making a regular circular cake with decorations for Cassie and for Jess I’ll be constructing a 3-D nose. I also don’t just stop with carving the cakes and icing them. I also make my own, homemade fondant. For those of you who aren’t aware of what fondant is, normally it’s made from a sticky corn syrup and the taste is just horrible so I went and found a fondant that uses powdered sugar and marshmallows. Basically, I’m exhausted and I wish I have never opened my big mouth. After a tough week all I really want to do is sleep and party.
I always over-extend myself and spread myself too thin in order to please other people. Some say it’s nice that I put others before myself, but isn’t everyone entitled to be selfish sometimes? I guess today just wasn’t my “selfish” day…oh bother.
The question I pose today is this: When was the last time you said “no” and fulfilled your own desires?

I don’t know why I go to extremes…

XOXO - Maxine

Thinking between the legs

Sex for women has always been viewed as taboo, even in today’s “modern” society. If a woman publicly flaunts her sexual conquests, think Samantha Jones of Sex and the City, she is viewed as a tramp or the more commonly used word: slut. Personally, I love sex. I always have and I hope I always will. I love being taken by a man; his gruff touch, callused hands, scruffy five o’clock shadow and the smell of his cologne…that combination just makes me weak. I know certain feminists would argue that a woman shouldn’t need a man to make her sexual desires come true however for me, the man IS the sexual desire. There is only so much one can do with a box full of toys.
I don’t fully understand the negative connotations associated with a woman being promiscuous. As long as the woman is safe in her sexual in devours, then more power to her. People like Wilt Chamberlain, who claims his sexual conquests estimate 20,000, and Gene Simmons, who claims his sexual conquests estimate 4,600, are idolized by men where as if a woman claimed even half that amount she would be black listed as a whore. I am well aware that double standards are alive and well in the world but for society to put such a stigmatism on only one sex isn’t fair.
Something that always puzzled me about sex and the idea of modesty was the passage in the bible where Adam and Eve emerge from the forest cloaked in leaves. God made them to be perfect to one another, so why did they feel the need to cover up perfection. Adam and Eve were the only two human figures on the face of the earth and suddenly they are shy.
The question I pose today is this: Are you open minded when it comes to sex? Why do you think society has such a “don’t ask/don’t tell” view on peoples bedroom behavior?

When I think about you I touch myself…

XOXO - Maxine

For more information about sex:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex

For more information about Samantha Jones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Jones_(Sex_and_the_City)

For more information on Wilt Chamberlain:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain

For more information on Gene Simmons:
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/archive/2007/11/28/gene-simmons-i-ve-had-sex-with-4600-women.aspx

On Alienation

I’m sure everyone, at one point in their lives, has felt alienated…as if your outside looking in. But, what do you do when you feel alienated in your own home? I’m not saying that having alone time isn’t nice but, it’s also nice to feel included and to feel like you are “one of the girls." I guess this sudden feeling of isolation stems from a recent “experience” at my apartment with my roommates, Matthew, Cassie, and Louise.
Cassie and I have been friends (on and off) for about three years now, and I’d like to think of her as a close friend, someone I can turn to and entrust secrets with. Cassie normally goes above and beyond the call of friendship and welcomes everyone with open arms and a warm smile. Louise, on the other hand, has often been described as a “loner” and has taken on the position of the “attention seeker” on more than one occasion. I’m aware the loner/attention seeker combination is often an oxymoron however, in this instance; it’s the only way to describe Louise. Now Matthew, he’s a breed all his own. A “free spirit” some would say…while more forthright individuals would just label him as a pot head, both are fairly accurate descriptions. Matthew works for a grass-roots organization and is rarely in the apartment, so I suppose this blog has nothing to do with him.
Anyway, back to my childish complaints…recently, Cassie and Louise have started hanging out together and going on various little day trips around the city (which I think is great and I love the fact that they are becoming friends *prior to us living together Cassie and Louise didn’t really know each other*) but, I often get overlooked in the planning stages of their excursions. I think the biggest issue I have with the current situation is that Louise has a rather bad habit of venting her frustrations with me to everyone but me and these therapy sessions usually take place while the two are out gallivanting around town. I know I’m not the easiest person to live with, everyone has their weird habits and I am no exception to this however, Louise chooses to complain about the most bizarre things. Her most recent complaint was that I fall asleep with the television on. This would be a valid complaint if Louise and I shared a room however; her room is situated on the other end of the apartment. How she could possibly be bothered by the fact that my television is on is really an oddity to me.
I used to pride myself on my resiliency and ability to let things slide off my back but lately I’m having a hard time being my usual, carefree self. It really is hard to come home and see shopping bags and take out containers and hear the giggling behind closed doors. One can’t help but think she is being talked about. Before my mother passed away, she advised me to take everything with a grain of salt. Mom, I’m afraid no amount of salt will help me with this one.
The question I pose today is this: When was the last time you felt left out? Or when was the last time you left someone out (intentionally or unintentionally)?

Smile, though your heart is aching…

XOXO - Maxine

Sarah Palin - An Individual Perspective

As the elections near, I think it’s important that we take the time to truly appreciate the abomination that is Sarah Palin. I have been privileged to discuss Governor Palin with many different people, from varying walks of life and it seems that you either love her, or you hate her…there is no happy medium. Many of the issues I have faced with Governor Palin seem to be the same issues that many others face. Certain questions remain unanswered.
My personal issues with Governor Palin lay in her unwillingness to answer certain questions and her general lack of knowledge on things that a candidate should be overly familiar with. I found it laughable that when Charles Gibson asked her what her opinion of the Bush Doctrine was, her response resembled that of a high school student to skipped the previous nights reading. (For those of your who aren’t familiar with the Bush Doctrine it is the phrase used to describe the various foreign policy principles of George W. Bush. Initially it described the policy that the U.S. had the right to treat countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups as terrorists themselves. In years to come it included additional elements, such as the controversial policy of prevent war, which held that the U.S. should despose foreign regimes that represented a threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat was not immediate, a policy of supporting democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East, as a strategy for combating the spread of terrorism, and a willingness to pursue U.S. military interests in a unilateral way.) I also found it interesting that Governer Palin is in favor of the Ukraine and Georgia entering NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and she leaves open option of war with Russia in the event of a Russian invasion of a NATO member.
I am also unwilling to put my nation in the hands of a person who believes that the war we are currently engaged in is “a task that is from God” Now, I’m aware I’m not a person of God and I don’t associate with any form of religion, but I do have a problem with someone that believes that war is “Gods plan”.
My last rant for this blog is in the form of questions. The question I pose today is this: How can a person be both pro-life and pro-death penalty? Isn’t the mentality of a pro-lifer that all life is sacred?

Question everything...

XOXO - Maxine

For more information on Sarah Palin:
http://gov.state.ak.us/

For more information on the Bush Doctrine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Doctrine

For the Charles Gibson interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNPGnZurs1k

For more information on NATO:
http://www.nato.int/