Humor

What drains you?

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Lately I have been thinking about what drains me in life. The bright light I keep being led to is: negativity. Now I am not going to tell you I am a perfect angel. Yes, I get negative and frustrated and the world does not always look bright and shiny. When I speak of negativity I am thinking more of the person that is consistently negative. I do not want them in my life. I do not want them in my house. I do not want them Sam I Am. Sorry I got a little Dr. Seuss on you.

We all have someone in our life that sucks us dry, takes, and complains, and we have to work hard to find our equilibrium again. Why do we continue to allow this to happen? Sometimes we do not have a choice. They could be a client, vendor, family member, friend, or co-worker. We might have tried to share our thoughts and opinions while the other person remained defensive or could not see our point of view. What do we do when that person continues to drain us?

I believe that we all have a choice in how we approach our day. We have a choice to how we are going to respond. Sometimes it is not always easy to stay positive and kind when our day might be throwing us curve balls left and right. But you know deep within if it is your tendency to lead with positive thoughts, happiness, and a smile on your face. You know if you are truly enjoying your life. If you throw out the random bad day, do you approach your life with a glass half full mentality? I hope so. It makes things so much easier.

When others have shared their struggle, I often want to find a thread in the story that shines to all the goodness, gratitude, and wonderful things they have going for them. There is usually always a silver lining. My hope is to cultivate that goodness and nip negativity in the butt. Who wants it around? Not me. What if we tried to lead with the joyous part of life, and tried to eradicate the Debby Downers? Are you with me?

My thoughts of what a man thinks…

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I had drinks with some friends on Friday night. We were laughing and joking around about men and women. Eventually we ended talking about randomolio.com. Someone said to me, I wonder what you would say if you wrote about “What a man thinks…”

It made me chuckle. It made me think about a conversation at work a few weeks ago, where a few of us were answering the question, if you had any superpower what would it be? I answered: reading people’s minds. Yes, I know what you might be thinking. That would be annoying, chaotic, and people would stop wanting to be around me if they knew. I have thought often about that superpower, because so often I find that people do not really say what they are thinking. Ever thought of that? As a woman do you wonder what a man is thinking at a given moment? As a man, I am sure you wonder all that is going through a woman’s mind.

Now back to men. Do they say what they are thinking? Yes, and no. I cannot make a blanket statement for all men, but the ones I have watched throughout my life, well I have found that they say what they are thinking when they feel safe, or powerful, or comfortable, or when there is actually something on their mind. See it really depends on the dynamics in a room, and it ALWAYS matters if there is something going on in their mind.

I have learned with Chris, if there is an issue that bothers me enough when he brings it up, that over time he stops bringing it up (word of note to other women). I have also learned that unlike a woman, there are always times when there is nothing going on inside that male mind. A woman, well that is a different story. The electrical outlets are always in use. There is always some thought process happening, but when you ask a man what is going on up there, there are times when literally nothing is happening. Ever heard of: The Nothing Box? If not, you will want to watch (apologies for the horrible, blurry YouTube video, the audio is what really matters).

What do you think?

Your first Drive-In?

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Do you remember the first movie you saw at the Drive-In? I do. It did not happen often, but I do remember my mom popping popcorn, and bringing Cokes (one of the rare occasions when we were allowed soda, or my midwestern roots would say “pop”). We would get into our paneled, yellow Buick station wagon and head to the Drive-In. My sister and I would get to lay down in the back-end of the station wagon to watch the movie. So, ready for my first Drive-In flick? Ghostbusters. Remember Slimer?

When I came across Honda’s current campaign to save the Drive-In, I was interested. Honda has started “Project Drive-In.” A campaign to reignite and support local Drive-Ins. As the movie industry moves from film to digital, most Drive-Ins will be impacted. Since most Drive-Ins today still have older projectors, Honda has launched this campaign to help replace the film projectors in Drive-Ins to digital, a $80,000 cost. They are putting up a vote to see which Drive-In should be next.

I am a bit partial because the 99W Drive-In in Newberg, OR is my closest Drive-In, so of course I was excited to see that people voted to save them — and they are a winner! I looked up the one from my childhood and it looks like it is not listed (bummer)! When I tried to find a full article at the newspaper I used to deliver papers for, I would have had to pay for the excerpt, and quite frankly, I was not interested. So I guess I will have to wonder what happened to the Ski-Hi Drive-In.

I encourage you to check out the Project Drive-In website and vote to save your local Drive-In, or one from your past. Of course, Honda is also taking donations for individuals to support saving more Drive-Ins. Voting has been extended to September 21. While yes I raise my eyebrows when I wonder about the motives of Honda, I do think it is a landmark of the past that should be preserved.

Do you remember your first Drive-In? Was it as a kid, with your family, or on a first date?

Just right now.

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I do not often watch a television show or movie without multi-tasking. I often get bored or distracted easily. So when I watched “Hit and Run” this weekend and did not multi-task, I was a bit miffed. It is not a movie I would have thought would have sucked me in. It did not get that many ratings, and does not have this amazing story line either. What intrigued me? That Dax Shephard wrote, acted, produced, and directed this movie.

I am always a bit impressed when a movie has been someone’s life and baby. Just like “Garden State” and Zach Braff, had me at hello. You will know most of the individuals in the cast. They are all friends of Shephard. They do their own stunts. The cars are his own. He financed it on his own too. I wanted to see what it was all about, and while not Oscar worthy, it was a good and entertaining movie.

Maybe I liked it because it was the perfect mix of car action with a little bit of the relationship world. A great mix for a couple and a night of movie watching. Two of my favorite quotes from the movie… The first one he says to his girlfriend a few times throughout the movie. It is his signature way to calm her down. I like it.

“Close your eyes and take three deep breaths…This is the only moment you need to worry about. No yesterday. No tomorrow. Just right now. You’re not late for anything. You aren’t going to miss anything. You are exactly where you are supposed to be and you are exactly who you are supposed to be. You are absolutely perfect and whatever happens today is exactly what is supposed to happen and if you want, I will spend every moment with you for the rest of your life.”

“This car is tits.”

“Hit and Run” might not be the best movie, but it will entertain and make you laugh. It made me appreciate movies that are not made with millions of Hollywood dollars. Just some money, good talent, and a story. What a novel idea…

Squatty Potty

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I know, I know… I somehow frequently bring up potty talk, but this time I could not resist. Last week I came across a Fast Company article about a new device called “Squatty Potty.” For those of you without kids, please keep reading as it is actually not a potty for training little ones. It is a potty for us all. I am including a video below that explains the process in full. The gist, in case you do not watch it, is this. For those of us that live in the western world, we sit on a nice porcelain vessel that allows for excrement to quickly flush away. What we have lost sight of is the best way for our bodies to shit it all out.

The Squatty Potty is a step stool of sorts that allows your feet to basically be the same height as your butt. When we sit normally on a toilet we are at a 90 degree angle, the Squatty Potty shifts your body to a 35 degree angle (see their website for illustrations). The way we sit on a toilet impacts our puborectalis muscle, and does not allow it to relax. By ensuring our body is in more of a squatting position, the puborectalis muscle is relaxed, allowing for ease in the pooping realm. Who knew!? I am fascinated.

Before I go out and buy one, I made a makeshift one yesterday out of 2 shoe boxes. If after a few days of trial I see amazing results, I might purchase the three pack. So beware future guests, you might just wonder why there is a “Squatty Potty” in your bathroom. It will be my treat to you.