1. Have I made certain that those I love feel loved?
2. Have I done something today that improved the world?
3. Have I conditioned my body to be more strong flexible and resilient?
4. Have I reviewed and honed my plans for the future?
5. Have I acted in private with the same integrity I exhibit in public?
6. Have I avoided unkind words and deeds?
7. Have I accomplished something worthwhile?
8. Have I helped someone less fortunate?
9. Have I collected some wonderful memories?
10. Have I felt grateful for the incredible gift of being alive?

Here's the jist of a conversation I had with someone yesterday.

Friend: Thanks for sending me the contact info for your endocrinology professional.

Me: Oh, I didn't realize you'd gotten it.

Friend: Yes, I got it, but I'm not going to call. Out of principle, I don't use that company. I think it's a terrible company, and I think they give horrible care.

Me: I like them; they are good to me, and I've been doing much better since going there.

Friend: Well, that's fine for you, but I think they are a terrible company, and I won't go there. We always got patients that had left their downtown office after getting terrible care.

Me: I don't go to the downtown office. I go to South Pasadena. South Pas is very different from downtown.

Friend: Yes, I know. But I still think it's a terrible company. But it's fine for you.

What the hell?

*seriously reconsidering the value of this "friendship"*

Yesterday one of my Facebook friends posted something on her wall that really upset me. This person usually posts inspirational sayings and pictures of fluffy kitties. So I was pretty surprised when she posted a picture yesterday that bore the caption: "Even liberals can understand this." Unfortunately, this post is not rare in the Facebook world, so common that it made me question the hours that I spend on the site.

Just for the record, this post is not a political statement on my part. I consider myself conservative on some points, liberal on others, and moderate on still others. I disagree with most of what I hear from politicians. But more than anything, I find political bullying absolutely unbearable.

I wonder why anyone would post something that clearly would insult at least one of her Facebook friends. Is the post meant to engender intelligent discussion during which both sides (in this case, "conservatives" and "liberals") can exchange points of view and maybe learn something from each other? If so, then starting with an insult would probably not be wise.

Is the post meant to appeal to those with similar political ideals, to say, "Look at how right we are?" If so, then why the name-calling?

Seems to me that the caption on the post is bullying, pure and simple. And as such, I want nothing to do with it. So, sorry Facebook pals. I may have to block you soon. If so, it's absolutely personal.

If you have read my blog before, you will notice that I changed the look of my blog. I figured that I was due for a change. So I changed the look as well as the title. Some of you will understand the significance of the title, but if you don't, I'll forgive you. Anyway, I changed the title because it was a little on the negative side, and I'm trying not to be as negative here in cyberspace as I usually am. So for the new year, I'm trying out a new look AND a new outlook.

Let me know what you think.

Today marks exactly 2 months before my AERA paper is due. Despite my best intentions to be done with this thing early, I suspect that I am going to be down to the wire with my writing. I am currently reading through the notes that Dr. Mitchell gave me on my first draft. This is, by the way, no simple task. There are lots and lots and lots of notes. And, Dr. Mitchell, scientist that he is, is VERY thorough. I know that this will help me in the long run, but I'm kind-of overwhelmed right now. I keep looking at these pages and pages and pages and wonder if I'll ever be done with this thing. And I really need to be done. As much as I love school, I really need to move on with my life. I need to find a stable job, stop worrying about money, buy a house, and move on. I can hear it now: "You can't keep waiting for your life to start." And that's not what I'm talking about. It's not about waiting for something to happen. It's about not slogging around in the same place for too long. And I think if I don't finish this thing this year, that's what I'll be...slogging.

And yet, I procrastinate. Even writing here is a form of procrastination, although I am also investigating inflation rate calculators even as I write this. So I guess I ought to go figure them out some more. See you whenever.