TMI Thursday: Social Media

Social Media is everywhere and linked to everything - blogs, FaceBook, Twitter, iTunes, Apps for: hooking up, shopping, banking, photo albums, music, and so much more. How plugged are you and how do you feel about it???1.

1. Mac or PC? PC… I have a DELL Studio laptop. I got it when I was in Grad School 3 years ago… OMG! Has it been three years?
2. How plugged in are you and why? I’m VERY plugged in. I have Facebook, a Blog, a smart phone, Instagram, Foursquare and a couple online dating profiles.
3. What would do if you were completely unplugged for a month? I cannot imagine! I have tried self imposed periods… the most I can sustain is two days and I have to be otherwise occupied.
4. Low Self esteem issues aside, if a pic of you turned up on a site like TapThatGuy, Hot or Not or People of Walmart, how would you react? I would SO not be on TTG or Hot or Not… but since shopping at Walmart is a necessary evil where I live, I consciously make sure I’m not wearing something to qualify me for a slot on that blog.
5. FaceBook is.... a guilty pleasure. One that way too many people take WAY too seriously.
6. Should you be able to post political and social views/opinions without loosing your job? Yes, but I realize that is unrealistic. Most businesses/agencies don’t deal in rational thought, they have to deal with irrational community members and possible community backlash.
7. List at least 5 of the social Apps you are on: You are looking at one, I posted links to three more in #2… so that’s FOUR. So… it’s not complete yet, but you can take a look at my POF profile. Let me know if you know of someone who may be my type.

BONUS

What question did you think of that could have been asked?TMI Questions… How often do you masturbate to a Tumblr blog? Way… way too often!

Fun, slightly embarrassing questions designed to reveal Too Much Information for my blog, between you and your significant other and among you and your friends and/or family.

POST YOUR TMI ANSWERS

Post and answer the questions on your blog or tumblr page and then post the link in the comments so that others can read your answers, visit your website and get to know you too. I post my answers on Thursday.

Sunday Stealing: Not So Manly

1. Boxers? Briefs? Boxer briefs? Thongs? Bikinis? Commando? – Boxers

2. What’s your fussiest personal care routine? – Trimming my beard and hair. I like having the beard, but I don’t want to look like I could fit in at a Doomsday Prepper convention.

3. Do you have a favorite tool? Power or manual? – My favorite tool is fully automatic baby… my smart phone.

4. Can you change your own oil? Do you? – I can, but I don’t. I’m a job creator.

5. What’s the “manliest/womanliest” thing you do on a regular basis? – You shouldn’t assign gender stereotypes and judge individuals on your determination on how much they meet that standard. There are children, and sometimes adults who endure a living hell at school and at work from people who feel it necessary to taunt and terrorize them because they fail to meet this standard. I know this from personal experience. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don’t mind and those who mind, don’t matter”.

6. What’s something “manly” that you never learned how to do? – I didn’t go hunting until I was in my 20’s, I don’t see the point when there is perfectly tasty meat available to me down at Safeway.

7. Do you ever cry? If so, what’s your trigger? – I become verklempt over military homecoming’s, emotional movies/TV shows… Holiday ad’s for Folger’s,

8. Do you have a chivalrous streak? How does it manifest itself? – My Mama taught me to hold open doors, say Sir or Ma’am and plus, being considerate of others is just a healthy way to live… until they treat you like crap, then it’s GO TIME!

9. Do you have a chauvinistic streak? How does it manifest itself? – “I'm smart, you're dumb; I'm big, you're little; I'm right, you're wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it.” A quote from the movie “Matilda” (also one that makes me tear up"). I do have a tendency to believe I’m right.

10. What’s your favorite movie? – For that answer… go HERE.

11. What’s the dumbest, testosterone-inspired thing you’ve ever seen? – The GW Bush Administration.

12. What quality do you think makes a good man good? -- Do you have that quality? – See answer 8… I think there is a fine line between being an honorable individual and being a dick. I try to be honorable, but I can be a dick if the circumstances are right.

13. Toilet seat up or down? – My cats like to jump up on the counter in the bathroom to watch me do my routine. One time, the toilet was open and they got wet… nothing is sadder/funnier than a moist kitty. I put the seat down for their safety and because it just makes the bathroom look tidy.

14. If your significant other is away, do you cook for yourself or eat out of cans and boxes (or rely on local drive-throughs and delivery)? – I am fully capable of cooking.

15. What societal expectation of being a man / women do you most resent? – The one that says that men shouldn’t show emotions, they should be into hunting and guns, or men cannot be crafty. On Halloween a co-worker and I pulled a prank on our supervisor. The next morning there was discussion on who had perpetrated this ‘crime’, someone suggested that it could have been me. The boss replies, “No, not John. He’s not crafty enough”.

16. What’s the best part - societal-wise - about being a man / women? – Men get to do all the war mongering, subjugating of marginalized populations, raping and pillaging of societal groups, and the bug killing. Women get to be bitches and blame it on a natural cycle.

17. Will you stop to ask for directions? – No, my GPS does just fine.

18. What’s one thing about your significant other that you just cannot understand, no matter how hard you try? – I cannot understand why I don’t have one… I’m a catch!

19. What do you need to have in the shower? – Hot water, soap, shampoo…. what else is needed?

20. Do you burp/fart/scratch? Do you do anything stereotypically male? – If you don’t burp/fart… you’ll explode and that will be a challenging clean-up even for Oxy Clean.

Thank you for playing this week on Sunday Stealing! Please leave a comment or link when you have posted. Stop back and visit other player’s posts. That is really what this is all about, making new friends! Have a great week. See you next Sunday!

Saturday 9: Beer Barrel Polka

1) Have you ever danced the polka? – Umm… No
2) Frankie Yankovic was a stellar accordion player. What instrument have you mastered, or would like to learn? – I took guitar lessons for years. I wanted to be Eddy Van Halen and my teacher wanted me to be Roy Clark; there was a fundamental breakdown in communication. I’ve only mastered the playing of one instrument… it has taken daily practice and dedication to various fingering techniques.
3) When Frankie died in 1998, his obituary proclaimed him as "America's Polka King." Lucille Ball was "The Queen of Comedy" and Michael Jackson was "The King of Pop." What royal title do you deserve? – I am Lord Octavius of Mayfair, and shall be referred to as such.
4) Do you like light beer? – Light beer is for people who just like to pee a lot.
5) In 1901, daredevil Annie Taylor successfully went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was badly bruised but otherwise fine. How much money would it take for you do to do something that dangerous? – One day Satan himself appears to me and says that he will give me fame, health and wealth in exchange for my eternal soul. I scoffed at him and he snarled at me with flames bursting all around me. He screeches, “I am the Lord of the Underworld, why aren’t you cowering in my presence? I reply, “I was married to your sister for 15 years, nothing scares me anymore”.
6) When was the last time you visited a pet store? – Monday
7) What's your favorite salad dressing? – Depends upon my mood… Ranch, Catalina, Balsamic Vinaigrette Bleu Cheese and Russian.
8) Sam Winters is crazy about her smart phone. She uses it to take pictures, record videos, listen to tunes, answer emails and surf the net and, oh yeah, she even uses it to make calls. How indispensable is your mobile phone in your day-to-day life? – After being off the Smart Phone bandwagon for about 18 months, I recently got back on. It is amazing how often I feel it necessary to check it and I’m using idle time to search for interesting apps.
9) "Kocham cię" is "I love you" in Polish. Can you say "I love you" in a language other than English (and Polish)? --

Blogging Challenge: 16, 17 and 18

** Go HERE for links to previous posts **

16 – NICKNAMES

The earliest nickname I can recall is “Johnny”. I believe this developed amongst my family members as a means to better differentiate between myself and my cousin John, who was about 6 months older than I and most likely was just an easy leap from the practice of using our middle initials as a means of getting our attention. He was/is John A. and I’m John E.

My next nickname memory came from the failed attempt by my best friend at the time to call me “Jack”. I think this was attempted around the time we were learning about President Kennedy and how John and Jack are interchangeable. Honestly, I wish this one had stuck, because I like the name Jack. 

The one that did stick was applied by peers in Middle School; I’m sure there were countless pejorative nicknames, but those are stored in the dark recesses of my repressed memories of that time. My official nickname is “JT”. A brilliant combination of the initials of my first and last name. Many of my lifelong friends still refer to me as such and occasionally some stumble upon it like they’ve arrived at some brilliant discovery. I took much joy in the discovery that my youngest daughter has also been assigned this nickname by her softball teammates. The joy came from the sound of hearing “JT” chanted from the stands as she came to bat, or when she accomplished some great diamond deed.

17 – FAVORITE PIC OF MYSELF OF ALL TIME

I don’t like having my picture taken, so there are very few from which to select. The one to the right was taken in July 2008 after I had lost 100 lbs. Even I have to admit, I look good. Unfortunately, this is when my marriage was falling apart and I was spending 2-3 hours a day at the gym to avoid going home. That fall I began grad school and that level of dedication to the gym was unsustainable and the weight began creeping back. I would really like to look like that again, I know what to do to accomplish it, I just have to Git’er done!

18 – SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED

TMI Thursday - Powerball

Some months ago, Sean over at Just a Jeep Guy began TMI Thursdays. Several of the blogs I read regularly participate and I thought I would jump in the pool. With the latest furor over POWERBALL, the multi-state lottery jackpot that was last listed at upwards of $585 million. I buy lottery tickets from time to time when the feeling strikes, regardless of how big the jackpot. But when it gets crazy big, I buy a couple tickets for myself as well as participate in the obligatory office pool. Hope springs eternal that the lightning bolt will strike me. I hear that someone in Missouri and Arizona has a chance to allow their dreams... or nightmares to come true.

LOTTO FEVER - What would you do... or NOT do? **I've actually given this a lot of thought**

1. For your family - I would set up accounts with the Oregon College Savings Plan for each of my kids. That way they have to meet academic criteria in order to access the funding. I would also set up trust funds for each of them that they wouldn't be able to access until they've achieved some level of maturity. But for right now... we would go on vacations. And they wouldn't want for anything.
2. For your Friends - I've watched those "Post-Lottery" shows enough to know that there will be countless "friends" who come out of the woodwork. For those friends who have stuck with me through the last 5 years, those who helped me out of tough spots., those who were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to me whine... I know who you are. You will share in my fortune.
2a. For my Ex - I would hire a real lawyer and try to reverse the ass-reaming I got in the divorce when I bought into the bullshit that it was all so amicable. I would also have a legal document drafted where I would offer her a a sizable chunk of the jackpot for her cooperation. After all, while she is a hateful, vengeful, angry religious nut... she is the mother of my children.
3. For yourself - The usual... a new car, a condo on the coast and one in the Pearl District in Portland and the ability to travel... I would be able to afford the Lap-Band surgery so I can lose weight become more active, more self-confident and look good for the 25 year old muscle bear I intend to woo. I would be able to afford to gain licensure as a LCSW (Licenced Clinical Social Worker). Since I would no longer have to work I would be able to work on my passions.
4. For Charity - I would set up a foundation that would offer grant funding to organizations that promote GLBT rights, assist people living with HIV and education to prevent the spread of HIV. I would also give a LARGE chunk of money to Basic Rights Oregon as they work to get Marriage Equality on the ballot.
5. For Revenge - Living well is the best revenge.. See Item 2a.

6. For PURE EVIL - In the State of Oregon children in divorce proceedings who are 13 and older are allowed to choose where they live, as a part of reversing the ass-reaming. I would allow my children the right to choose. They weren't allowed that last time. In fact it was written into the mediated agreement that they didn't have that right. As I mentioned... she is an angry, vengeful, hateful religious nut; and after four years it hasn't moderated.  Also, if I can't snare me a sexy muscle bear on my own, I'll buy one. There are plenty of sites when I can find me a rent boy.

POST YOUR TMI ANSWERS
Post and answer the questions on your blog or tumblr page and then post the link in the comments so that others can read your answers, visit your website and get to know you too. I post my answers on Thursday.

Challenge #15

Something you miss…

Over the weekend Rick Santorum called President Obama a snob for wanting people to have the opportunity to go to college. He feels the President wants people in college so they will be indoctrinated by them damned liberal professors.

In my educational career had the good fortune to attend both a conservative religious university and a more liberal one. There are many positive things I gathered from the university experience. In addition to knowledge and friends, I feel I gained critical thinking skills. These skills are honed through passionate discussions with my peers in the dorms, around the table at mealtime, in the halls and in the classroom. I truly enjoyed sitting around the dorm arguing the merits of a particular line of thought on a topic until the wee hours of the morning. In my undergrad I feel my critical thinking skills were in their infant stage. I held onto the conservative views of my upbringing, so I was more likely to fall into line with popular opinion based solely on the authority of the speaker. I remember listening to Rush Limbaugh and believing… if Rush said it, it was RIGHT. Some of my friends from that era chuckle now to remember those days as I now espouse a more progressive worldview. As I moved through the years between undergrad and graduate school I saw my abilities to think critically about the beliefs I held grow stronger. I went from being a supporter of George W. Bush in 2000 to questioning his leadership abilities and ultimately switching party affiliations and supporting Barack Obama in 2008. In 2004 I asked several Kerry supporters to tell me why they were supporting him. I wanted to have a well reasoned, critical argument with them not to change their view, but to see if mine were valid. I’ve learned in the years between my educational experiences and since completion of grad school; most people don’t seem to have time to ponder the philosophical implications of a particular event or how a book impacted their lives; work and family takes up most of the spare brainpower we may have laying around.

I miss those intellectual discussions in the halls of the university with my peers. I miss sounding out my views and listening to the views of others to see if mine could stand up. I miss exploring a differing view and finding that it has merit over one I hold. It was easier to have those conversations in the university setting because that is what everyone is there to do, or at least it should be. I’m not saying that subscribing to the liberal political philosophy is right for everyone, but it’s right for me. Sen. Santorum and other conservative parents should be fearful of letting their fully indoctrinated children go to university because if they didn’t teach their child to hold onto their conservative or religious worldview using critical thinking; those poor children may have their minds opened to new ideas and perspectives and, perhaps worse… they may learn to reason for themselves and stop voting for ignorant, fear-mongering Republicans.

Sunday Stealing: The Scottish Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. Where are you from and where do you live now?

From here…

 

Live here…

I’m slowly sneaking up on Portland… I hope to get there before I die.

2. Favorite childhood story/book/film?

3. If you could change gender for a day what would you do?

Why would I want to do that?

4. Do you feel you family is complete or would you like more/some children?

 

My family has achieved perfection… for now. I’m actually looking forward to grandkids, but I am in NO hurry for that to happen.

5. What do you do/Where do you work and do you enjoy it?

I’m a Social Worker and I do enjoy what I do. As one would expect, there are days where the challenges outweigh the victories. My eldest daughter has asked me to do a presentation at her high school for Career Day this Wednesday. I’m honored that she invited me, but I’m nervous about it too. I want to make her proud.

6. Which three words do you think sum you up?

I’M NOT DONE!

7. If you were a fairy what magical powers would you possess?

The power to make everything and everyone FABULOUS. If you think about it, is there anything or anyone in your life that couldn’t use a healthy dose of FABULOUS?

8. If you were invisible, where would you go and what would you do? Why?

I’m guessing there some pretty wicked shit in Rick Santorum’s closet.

9. What song can’t you listen to without crying?

 People have asked who I’m singing this song to… I don’t know yet.

10. Which book changed your life – or at least made you think a lot?

This is a travelogue written by Oregon author Donald Miller examining the religion he was taught growing up and how it works in the real world. I didn’t get to the same point as Mr. Miller, but I don’t think my journey is over yet.

11. Why do you blog?

**I just noticed I have 20 more of these things, so I’m going to skip the picture on a few.

In theory… I blog to process thoughts and to engage in debate. In practice… I don’t do it often enough to do well at either.

12. What is your top ‘me-time’ tip?

Close the curtains, lock the doors, put on some comfy clothes and just veg.

13. What can’t you live without?

 

… and the internet.

14. Which of all your blog posts are you most proud of and why?

I cannot link you to my best blog post because it no longer exists. I wrote a post in January 2009 describing the process I went through to conceal my sexuality for 20+ years and the coming out process. It no longer exists because it caused such an uproar from my (at the time) estranged wife, I deleted it in a fit of pique. I received such positive affirmations from most friends from that post. I wish it still existed so I can go back and look at it.

15. Have you ever met a famous person? Who and where?

During 2003-06 I hosted a daily community affairs talk show. In that capacity I was able to meet some pretty interesting people. Since it was community affairs, most of my “famous” guests were politicians such as Sen. Gordon Smith or Rep. Greg Walden. In my time as a radio DJ I met many famous artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, k.d. lang and Brooks & Dunn. But the famous person whom I am most honored to have met is legendary NBA player Bill Walton. Our local Indian Casino has an annual celebrity golf tournament. Mr. Walton came and I had the opportunity to have him on my interview show. I still have a recording of that show… it was an incredible experience for this lifelong Blazers fan.

16. When did you last have a full nights sleep?

I have no idea…

17. What would you think is harder: Going to work or staying at home with children?

I firmly feel that staying home, allowing the ankle biters to suck the hopes and dreams from your soul is a much harder task.

18. What are you doing for Easter?

The same thing I do every Sunday… make myself a nice Bloody Mary, watch the Sunday morning talkshows, do laundry and complete the weekly Sunday Stealing.

19. What is your favorite drink?

A well crafted Gin & Tonic

20. Do you play any sports?

 

I expect to take gold in London this summer.

21. What is your most embarrassing moment?

There have been so many they all tend to blur together.

22. How clever are you?

Wile E. Coyote got all his ideas from me… however there was a failure in execution.

23. Name a new favorite TV show?

I am loving Two Broke Girls, that show has several laugh-out-loud moments in every episode.

24. Any guilty pleasures?

25. If you could have chosen your own name, what would it be?

Indigo Montoya

26. Who do you most admire in life, and why?

Jane Addams was a pioneering individual in the field we know now as Social Work. She set out to examine the horrendous conditions in the mental institutions of Massachusetts. She did this in the early-20th century when people didn’t want to know what was going on in the “insane asylums” and they certainly didn’t want to hear about it from a sill woman.

27. What is your most treasured possession?

I have a number of things that belonged to my grandparents… a cast iron lion bank, a 1906 school book and a miniature gramophone. But my most treasured possession (if you can call it that) are the friends that have gone with me through the the changes my life has taken over the last three years.

28. Tell your favorite funny joke…

This guy goes into a bar and orders three shots of Jagermeister. The bartender is impressed and asks what the occasion. Our guy says, “I just had my first blow job”. The bartender is impressed and says, “If you can take three shots of Jager, the fourth is on me!” Our guy says… If three shots doesn’t get the taste out of my mouth, I doubt a fourth will.

29. What is your biggest fear in life?

Dying alone.

30. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? What does it remind you of?

Ben & Jerry’s… Phish Food. It reminds me that sometimes you have to just enjoy life and say to hell with the calories

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