WordPress says that my location can be detected if I opt-in to their new geotag system. So I’m trying it out via the blog. Find me!

Follow up: I played with the new feature last night, and took a look at where it actually points me today. I did an auto detect geotag and didn’t input my actual address. Result? Not too far off – about two miles. The ironic part is that auto detect puts me almost exactly at one of my friends’ house! So now you all know where Edna lives! I better let her know there’s an open house going on…maybe she’ll whip up some of her famous mac and cheese for you…

I read this article today and unfortunately, agreed with it: 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/family/chi-1108-funnygirlnov08,0,5882566,full.story 

The article talks about how men are often intimidated by women with a good sense of humor. The author was prompted to explore the topic when he felt a bit intimidated by his girlfriend’s ability to build on his humor – “God forbid, that this girl might be funnier than me.” The article focuses mainly on female comedians and their dating mainly male comedians because male noncomedians “don’t get it” and the females want them to.  

I don’t consider myself a female comedian, but I do empathize with these women. Sociologist Bernard Beck is quoted in the article and his explanation is extremely depressing: “Even after a long period of transformation of women’s role in society, older, traditional images are still on everyone’s mind,” he said. “In relationships, women seem to be pleased more often with somebody who shows power, ingenuity and can put on a good show. Men seem to more often look for a good audience. And if the person you want to be an audience to you is instead seizing the limelight, that may not be the bargain you’re looking for.”

I’m trying not to get too personal in this blog, but I have found his statement to be true. It’s happened to me – too many times – and it makes me angry. My strengths are turn offs to men who want an audience and don’t want to be one. I was born with a sense of humor and I do think that there’s a genetic component on my father’s side, especially with my grandfather. I can’t help it if I can quickly make connections and see humor in seemingly unrelated things. I do get a lot of laughter in response to my humor and try not to be insensitive to others. But humor doesn’t seem to be a desirable quality in a girlfriend, and that saddens me a lot. There may be men out there who want a funny girlfriend, but I haven’t found them yet…and life is very dull without humor.

Tellingly, the end of the article comments that the article really isn’t about funny girls, it’s about weak men. Possibly… 

Yep, not too much new or maybe I’m too inhibited to come up with something. I did enter the 21st century yesterday and got my first iPod! I love being way behind the curve. Now I’ll have to master it. I’m sure I’ll be able to pull it off – it’ll just take some concentrated brain power and maybe a few questions to the more technologically advanced human beings on the face of the earth. But I still consider myself in a blogging lull. Once I start playing with the iPod and start deciding what songs to download, that’ll open up some topics. I guess starting with my own music page on the blog might be a good start. Should be fun.

Until then, another overall lull continues. Zzzz…

The health club is not a place I usually get emotional. If I’m feeling any emotion, it’s usually hatred at my body or the treadmill because every now and then I feel like I want to fall off the treadmill due to fatigue. Other than that, I’m concentrating on getting the workout done and am not emotional.

Today was different. Right when I got on the treadmill and started my 50 minute, 3 mile journey this morning, I looked at the television screens about 10 feet in front of me. At first, I was confused. Why is there a naval carrier in New York City? Then I thought it was fleet week and I was trying to remember when that usually happens. And I decided that it must be now because there was no other reason for a huge warship to be in New York Harbor…and then it hit me…

It wasn’t fleet week. There was a reason that naval carrier was in New York Harbor…and it just wasn’t any carrier…it was the U.S.S. New York, a brand new ship made with steel from the World Trade Center. And as I got into my treadmill zone, I realized that the ship was going past Ground Zero and my eyes immediately filled with tears and I had to grip the treadmill so I stayed on it. It took me a few minutes for the tears to subside.

Since I had plenty of workout left, I had some time to reflect on what I had just seen. I’m sure there are people who probably disapprove of how that steel was used. But I bet most, like me, think that for this particular steel, it is an appropriate use – from fragmented, singed steel to a strong symbol of military strength. I’d like to think that most people who lost their lives on that tragic day would approve of this use of the steel that surrounded them.

I hope the terrorists who perpetuated this heinous act eight years ago will see that the United States turns tragedy into strength.

It was very emotional to see that the circle had closed this morning in New York Harbor.

It’s nearly six o’clock and not one Kate Gosselin wig-wearing kid?! Maybe the 39 degree wind chill is keeping the Frankensteins away. (gee, it can’t be Halloween in Chicago unless there’s a wind chill…or snow…and luckily this year, no snow…) Since it’s Saturday, I loaded up on the candy. I hope I get some witches and goblins soon. I like seeing the costumes…ooh, I just heard the doorbell…they’re heeerrre…

Watch out Jon Hamm, Matt Bomer’s giving you a run for your suit and fedora. I just checked out Mr. Bomer’s new show, White Collar, on USA Network. I was impressed not only with Mr. Bomer’s suits (they appear to fit him very well) and acting, but also the rest of the show. Smart people outsmarting people not quite as smart. Plus Diahann Carroll is in it as the classy rich “landlady.” She’s awesome.

I definately enjoyed my first taste of this show and look forward to more…

I haven’t blogged about blogging in awhile, and I’ve been pondering the boredom of the blog. If only I could treat the blog as a true journal. I know there are people out there who do - who comment on almost every thought, pure or otherwise, post all types of pictures, and name names. Alas, that will never occur in this blog…

I wish it could, but this blog is on the Internet. The Internet lives forever. If I were too honest for my own good, this blog would come back to bite me someday. It’s possible it still could in its present form, but I try and think through every post from a privacy and an everlasting perspective. There is someone I wouldn’t mind blogging about, but that person has a fairly unusual name and there is no way I could ever post it and not have it get back to them. Maybe that person wouldn’t mind, but maybe that person would (which would probably be a topic for a blog entry…) So that person will never be named here. I’ve alluded to the person at least once, but that’s all it will ever be – allusions. The entries I’d like to write are ones only fit for offline journals.  So this think-before-you-blog policy has stifled the blog.

It would be great if I had blog block to blog about specific people in my life and let off some steam if I’m upset about somebody’s actions (of course, I never am!) As Dana Carvey used to quote Bush Sr. – wouldn’t be prudent. Plus, I don’t think I’d be too thrilled if people I knew were blogging about me in an unpleasant light.

So the struggle of relevancy and topics continues. The blog is two and half now and I continue to question if it is still meaningful. Especially lately, I don’t think so, but it may still redeem itself. After all, I should try and leave something meaningful on a blog that will last forever! Maybe the meaning fell between the sofa cushions. I guess I’ll go look for it now…

I’ve had a few unexpected surprises thrown at me lately, and I suspect there will be a few more, mainly about the contract work that’s being done on my house. I don’t know why I’ve been surprised. I should expect more problems. I think I’ve been a little too hopeful and need to get back to the reality of problems lurking underneath surfaces that have yet to be uncovered.

I just need to get into the right mindframe and it’s definately been adjustment. I guess I have to take it one day at a time. Too bad I don’t have a reliable crystal ball.

My brain hasn’t been coming up with much lately. All it can deal with is the mundane details of everyday life, like cleaning, doing the laundry, and going to the gas station so my car doesn’t run out of gas – snore. I think it’s just stressed out with lots of details and mundane tasks. The end result – the blog suffers and gets full of rants. The word rant is growing ever bigger on the tag cloud. That’s not a goal of the blog.

Eventually, the brain will give me something other than a rant. But I guess I’m in a blog dead pool for now. Continue standing by if you can stand it!

Out of nowhere, I just saw that Mr. Penske, who was suppose to buy Saturn, isn’t. No warning. No rumblings. I guess I’m a fool for sticking with them for 16 years. And of course my dealership’s site has absolutely nothing about what’s going on.

I am VERY unhappy.