Well, Hello

Long time, no blog. I've gotten really lazy with this. Sorry Tobie -- the 1 of maybe 2 people who actually read this, haha.

Let's see -- what's new?

Still working lots.

Snow is pretty much gone (finally!)

Mother nature apparently skipped right over spring and jumped straight to summer (91 degrees today!)

I got my first smart phone and love it! I got the HTC Droid Eris, which is similar to the Motorola Droid everyone's buzzing about, but it looks sleeker and has Android 1.5 instead of Android 2.0 (but an upgrade is coming soon!). Considering this is my first cool phone, I think it's awesome.

Well, that's about it for now. See you when I have something interesting to say.

Tweet

Sooo... I'm on Twitter now. I've been using it as a social marketing/PR tool at work (that's right, I said WORK -- read on for a full update) pretty successfully, but I figure it's best to learn how to use it and make mistakes on my own personal account before screwing up the company account.

You can follow me @ twitter.com/jessiemerryman if you really want to. I don't know why you would, but the option is there just in case.

Anyway, here's the latest and greatest update (or should I call it an unofficial Tweet?) for ya:

Job
Yes, you read right -- I have a new job. After being laid off with perfect timing for Thanksgiving, I floundered around a little, resting up for my next big stint. Then, with perfect timing for Christmas, I was offered a position as the marketing and PR coordinator at a company called Moodlerooms, an online education solution provider for schools, districts, colleges, universities, corporations, etc., using a popular open-source online learning system called Moodle.

I like it so far. Writing and editing is a huge function of my position, so it's perfect for me because that is a passion of mine. Also, my commute has been cut in half (though half an hour is still a somewhat hefty commute). They definitely keep me busy, but I enjoy it because I'm finally using the skills I paid (and am still paying) for. I work a lot more than I used to, but at least it's because I actually have work to do. I'm turning into a workaholic, so I'm trying to limit myself to nine hours a day, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

All in all, life is pretty good for me right now. I'll update you the next time something important happens. Until then, hopefully I'll start finding time to post more often about other things.

Oops, I did it again

I know I promised to post at least one thing every day, but I've realized recently that apparently without motivation (like a paycheck or someone breathing down my neck), my personal projects tend to get easily shifted to the bottom of my priority list. This is not necessarily a bad thing considering it means I am able to put the most important things first. But it's sad in way that I apparently get bored easily and can't stick to a long term goal/project if it's only for my own enjoyment -- am I on the bottom of my own priority list??

Yikes.

But anyway, I take back my promise -- unless someone wants to be that someone breathing down my neck (which I doubt). I'll post when I have something to say.

So, what have I been up to since I last posted? If you really care, feel free to continue reading.

Well, I went to Florida for vacation and visited family, Universal Studios and Shamu. I went on a special Dolphin Spotlight Tour at SeaWorld Orlando and got to touch a dolphin, which was pretty awesome (they feel like a wet rubber suit).

Then exactly one week after returning to work from vacation, I learned that the company I worked for bought a competitor and decided to keep the competitor's management team and get rid of its own, thus closing our office and laying off about 50% of the company. So, I worked exactly eight days after returning from vacation before never having to return again.

In the meantime, my sister had turned me on to the Twilight saga, which enabled me to escape from my crappy reality. I read the entire saga (2,000+ pages total) in about a week. And then I read it again. And am currently finishing it up for the third time... Yes, I became slightly obsessed. Not just because I had nothing else to do or wanted to avoid thinking about the fact that I was unemployed for the first time in my life since high school, but because the main love interest in the series is the perfect man (despite being a vampire) and I enjoyed those moments of his fictional existence while I was reading. Pathetic, I know.

But, it hasn't been all bad. I'm actually enjoying the downtime while I can get it. My bills aren't too high -- unemployment insurance covers them mostly -- plus I received a small severance and already had a little bit of emergency money saved up, so I have some time before I have to start worrying about the financial repercussions. I have a good chance for a job I interviewed for, so if I get it I figure I can kind of think of this time as an extended paid vacation.

Now I'm just looking forward to Christmas and hopefully a much happier new year.

Obama vs. McCain?

(Image credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com)

I typically am not a very politically-involved person. This is not to say that I am apathetic – I certainly have my own thoughts and opinions about certain issues – but I am not one to go around actively campaigning for a particular candidate or issue. I support everyone’s right to have their own beliefs, so I try not to push mine on others hoping to change their minds – especially when my opinion is unsolicited. I will defend my beliefs, but I will not say that your beliefs are wrong just because they’re different from my own. I prefer to agree to disagree. (If only the rest of the world were like that – it’s the extremism and inflexibility of those who believe they are right and everyone else is wrong that causes so many of the world’s problems, in my opinion.) I will, however, at least share my ideas; in this case about the 2008 Presidential Election. Just know that it is not my intention to sway anyone one way or another. I’m just sharing my thoughts (that is the purpose of my blog, after all).

I support Obama and plan to vote for him. However, despite my preference for one candidate over another, I am hard pressed to “bash” anyone. Certain politicians may have different views than me, but at least they’re taking action – trying to create plans, supporting issues and taking a stand. I can’t necessarily say that I could do the job any better or that I have any better solutions, so who am I to complain? My motto is, “Don’t complain unless you’re going to do something about it.” I may not agree with McCain’s position on the war, but I certainly do not have any sort of plan while at least he does (even if I don’t agree with it), so I generally keep my mouth shut. However, since I do not agree with most of his views, I will vote for someone else who values the same things that I do; and in this case, that is Obama. Here is my personal, politically-limited and inexperienced take on the two candidates:

Obama

Experience
Many people say he doesn’t have enough experience – “he hasn’t been to war;” “he’s never run anything.” But sometimes it’s not the experience of actually doing that is required to succeed, but rather knowing what needs to be done and having the tools to figure out how to do it. We need some fresh ideas, because what we’ve got going on right now obviously isn’t working too well. Maybe Obama’s “inexperience” gives him a fresh view of our country’s current situation and would actually allow him to bring in new, creative ideas and a breath of fresh air to our stale government. I honestly don’t think he could be any worse than Bush, so it’s worth a shot.

Race
One downside I see with Obama is he does tend to pull out the race card a bit too often. I acknowledge that it is an unfortunate obstacle for him, as I do foresee a lot of people ignorantly choosing to not vote for him simply because of the color of his skin rather than his ability; however, if he does not want that to be a major factor in whether or not someone votes for him, I’d advise him to stop bringing it up. People who would vote that way aren’t going to be persuaded otherwise by guilt tripping them – but continually talking about the issue will definitely keep it fresh in their minds.

War
I’ve had enough with the war in Iraq, so I'm with Obama in his belief that we need to get out of there. I can understand the need for security – we need to be ready to handle any threats and to defend ourselves. But somehow defending ourselves after 9/11 turned into a mission to “save” Iraq and completely change their government so they have democracy and equal rights and all this lovely stuff that it feels like we barely even have ourselves sometimes – all the while really just trying to maintain a supply of their oil. Just because a country has a different way of running itself doesn’t necessarily mean they are a threat. It’s the relationship with that country that can make or break you. If we had a good relationship with the rest of the world, it wouldn’t matter how each government runs its own country. Unfortunately, most of the world HATES us, and putting our nose in their business isn’t going to change that.

Selfish
I have actually heard some people call Obama selfish, saying that he brings up his own life too much. These people need to understand that, when it comes to public speaking, this is actually just a technique -- a rhetorical tool, if you will -- that most successful speakers and debators use. He is trying to relate to his audience; increase his appeal to those who are going through similar situations or have concerns about those issues. You can't blame the man for trying to convince voters that he understands their wants, needs and concerns. This IS a competition, after all...


McCain

Age
He is OLD. At age 74, both of my grandparents died... Not to be crass, but c'mon, he's not getting any younger. At this point, most people are looking at McCain thinking, "There is an extremely good chance that your Vice President might actually end up having to take your place if you get ill or die." And to be honest, I don't think too many people are all that convinced that Gov. Palin should be vice president, let alone president...

Military Experience
I have the utmost respect for McCain and his military service. I think, in general, he is probably a great person and has good intentions. But I don't necessarily think our president needs to have military training to run the country. Defense is only one aspect of the government, and the president doesn't really have that much control over what happens. He may come up with general plans, but it still has to be voted on and approved by other people, and he is not the one actually telling the troops what to do. He just sets a goal and the military does the dirty work.

Attitude
One of the things that bothers me the most about McCain is his attitude and temper. During these debates, he seems to snap at Obama and be on the brink of actually yelling sometimes. It's not professional and it's not respectful. McCain also constantly harps on Obama for what he is or is not doing/has or has not done, rather than focusing on proving that he really is the better candidate. Rather than come out and say why he should be president, McCain seems to want to bash Obama instead and say why Obama shouldn't be president. Ok, McCain doesn't like Obama -- BIG surprise. McCain points out Obama's flaws but doesn't necessarily tell us why he is any better. He is just pointing out the differences between them, and for some of us, those differences aren't enough to make us want to vote for McCain instead.

Oil
Tonight McCain so cleverly said that Obama is eloquent but you have to pay attention to his words. He pointed out that Obama said they'd "look at" offshore drilling, but added that instead of just looking at the possibility, we need to just do it now because we can. You're forgetting something, McCain -- what do you do when that oil runs out? Sure, we could go ahead and drill away, but it's not renewable so it's going to run out eventually. What then? What we need to do is focus on creating alternative fuel sources -- renewable sources -- rather than just drilling until it's dry. If we can figure out a way to create our own fuel and not run out, then we'll definitely be able to significantly decrease our dependency on other countries.

Again, I am not one to force my opinions on anyone, and I will not say that if you are a Republican or are voting for McCain that you are stupid or wrong. However, this is my blog and these are my opinions; take them or leave them. No matter what people say or how well either candidate does in the race, my decision can not be swayed because, in the end, McCain's views do not coincide with my own when it comes to most of the issues, including abortion, gay marriage, health care and the war. But I completely respect those who support McCain because they do not share Obama's views. As long as you believe in something and stay true to it. "Stand for something, or you'll fall for anything."

Clay Aiken is ::gasp:: GAY?

Clay Aiken has finally come out of the proverbial closet -- not that that's at all shocking. The whole world already pretty much knew, and I was starting to worry that either he didn't or he was kidding himself.

I can understand the concept of privacy; especially about one's sexual life. But unless Clay is/was ashamed of himself or his sexual orientation, I don't understand why he was so stubborn about trying to keep up the facade of being straight. It was already so obvious!

I have to say I have more respect for Clay Aiken now that he is being honest with himself and his fans. He is a better role model for his fans and his son when he is open enough to 1. Not tell Diane Sawyer that she's "rude" (along with other similar events) and 2. be true to himself.

"This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." ~ William Shakespeare

So kudos to you, Clay Aiken. You may catch some flack from homophobes and the like, but I think, over all, you will find people to be much more accepting of you now that you are accepting of yourself.

Damage Case: A True Story by John Nagle

I am in my room, listening to the themes from Superman, The Untouchables, and the celebration theme from Rocky. These swirling orchestral pieces of movie magic are what I listen to when I’m really depressed. They make me feel strong, powerful and invincible. Unfortunately, today they aren’t helping.

I have been going to shows regularly since I was fifteen. In my eight years as a live music fan, I’ve rarely had a bad experience. I’ve found people to be accommodating, friendly, generous and warm. One of my fondest memories is when I saw Iced Earth five years ago. I was a little nervous about the crowd and asked if the pit was going to be intense. Five seconds later, I feel a firm grip on my shoulder. A hulking, heavily-tattooed, bald biker was standing behind me. He looked me in the eye and said:

“Brother, if anyone fucks with you, they are dead.”

There have been tense moments along the way, but I’ve never felt threatened by anyone. Most idiots at concerts have had too much to drink and can simply be ignored. They can be belligerent but are all talk. I never expected last night’s incident to happen, which is why I’m so shaken up.

Last night I went to see Motorhead at Ram’s Head Live. Ram’s Head is not a new venue for me. I go there so often that I know the entire security team. I feel extremely safe and know that I’m protected. Since it was Motorhead, I knew there would be a violent mosh pit, so I decided to sit in the balcony. The balcony is the best place in the entire venue because you have an unobstructed view of the entire floor. My friend, Country, usually ropes off a spot for handicapped people so people don’t get in our way.

I was having a really good time. Motorhead was obscenely, ridiculously, soul-crushingly loud. I had a full view of the pit and enjoyed the mayhem, knowing that I was safe on the balcony. The interesting thing was that even though the pit was violent, the crowd was just having fun. This wasn’t like a Limp Bizkit concert, where the linebacker who goes into the pit annihilates everyone. These guys were just burning off the aggression. I watched two kids completely destroy each other, and when Lemmy finished the song, they hugged.

I was on the balcony with another guy in a wheelchair, and we were both metal-thrashing mad. Everything I’d heard about Motorhead was true, and the night was going off without a hitch. Midway through the set, a drunk stumbled over to us, tripped over the rope and nearly fell on us. I was immediately put on edge. The other guy left before the encore, and the drunk went into his spot. People were telling him to move, because it was for people in wheelchairs. He became strident and refused to move. I was getting really nervous. A security guard eventually told him to move, but he refused to back down. The security guard tightened the rope around me, which made a decent spot for the guy. The guard said that since the band was playing their last song, he could stay in that spot.

Motorhead started to play “Overkill,” and the guy got in my face asking me if I was in his way the whole night. He was totally wasted and looking for trouble. I tried to ignore him and watch the band, since they were playing my favorite song. The guy got so close to me that I could smell the stale beer on his breath and asked:

“What? You too good to answer questions?”

“Shut up and leave me alone,” I replied.

“Well I guess you are a Republican asshole then.”

“I guess so.”

The guy flipped me off, and I was through turning the other cheek.

“You are a piece of shit,” I said.

“So are you man, you uptight asshole.”

He flipped me off again, and I responded with the tried and true two fingered salute. I told him to fuck off, and he actually went away. It was like a million other incidents I’ve had with drunken people at concerts, and I thought it was the end. I relaxed and enjoyed the show.

Halfway through the song, I felt something creep up behind me. The guy came back and was screaming in my ear. After he screamed in my ear, he knocked my hat off my head. Before I even had a chance to process what was happening, I felt a sharp pain on my left cheek. The guy punched me in the face. I was so shocked that I didn’t know what to do. Fortunately for me, Country saw what happened and took the guy out. Everyone on the balcony was appalled by what happened. Two guys picked up my hat and my headphones and gave them back. A security guard took me out of the building and asked if I was hurt.

My head was swimming, but a quick systems check told me that nothing was broken. My cheek was stinging, so I asked if I was bruised. The guard told me that it was just a bump. He asked me if I wanted to press charges, but I was so disoriented that I didn’t have an answer. I knew I had to talk to my dad.

I got my dad on the phone and told him what happened. He told me that he would be there in 20 minutes. He talked to Country, who told my dad that I should press charges. As a lawyer, my dad agreed. I was happy to. I gave my statement to the cops, who informed me that the guy claimed that I took a swing at him.

Let’s look at the stats. I am five feet tall and weigh 85 pounds. This guy was at least 5’6 and, judging by the size of his gut, I’d say 250 pounds. Why would I take a swing at a guy who is significantly larger than I am? I am even shorter because I was sitting in my chair. It boggles my mind.

I went home with a bump on the cheek and bruised pride. I never thought I’d see someone actually assault a disabled person, let alone that it would be me. I can verbally spar with the best of them, but when it comes to physical altercations, I am absolutely defenseless. Even worse, the guy hit me from behind. If he was a real man, he would have come at me straight on.

By writing this blog, I am not asking for pity in any way. However, I have never been more upset in my life. I’ve met so many cool people at shows, and I love going to them more than anything in the world. To be humiliated while doing something I love is absolutely devastating. I’m trying to remain positive, but it’s really hard. I’m not OK.


(John Nagle is a friend of mine from college. He has Cerebral Palsy and is an awesome writer and all-around rock guru. I am appalled that anyone would treat him (or anyone) this way -- not just because he's physically disabled, but because he's such a nice person. This guy obviously lost his marbles that night...)

Tipping 101

On the rare occasions I come across a situation where tipping is necessary, I tend to wonder what the "etiquette" is. Now I know. Are you a good tipper? Read on to find out...

"Lately it seems like I can’t go anywhere without encountering that awkward tipping moment—a prolonged handshake with a bellhop at a hotel, a lingering stare..."
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Always a bridesmaid; never a bride.

I'm the maid of honor in two weddings next year (first my best friend's, then my sister's), and I've been planning so much I'm starting to think I should become a professional. Seriously. I'm pretty good at it.

I came across this site tonight for custom bridal party shirts (Bridal Party Tees), and while they're a bit pricey, they have an awesome feature on their site where you can design and see instantly how you want your shirt(s) to look. I have the perfect idea for my best friend's bachelorette party -- I can't wait! It's a year away and I already have everything planned...

Can't live with it, can't live without it...

Car insurance, that is.

I just found out tonight that my car insurance went up because of an accident I had 6 months ago (long story short -- snow and unfamiliar windy, hilly roads don't mix). At the time, insurance was a lifesaver because the accident totaled my car (because it was a cheap car, not necessarily because there was a lot of damage), and they paid for the value of the car -- which was more than enough to cover what I owed on my loan with some left over to put towards a down payment on a new car.

When I bought my new car, I was amazed that my insurance hadn't been affected by the accident -- but apparently I spoke too soon. Now, 6 months later, my insurance is being surcharged with a "chargeable accident" fee. I expected it to go up, yes. But 1. I thought I got away with it somehow -- maybe that "accident forgiveness" thing they talk about all the time, which now seems like a bunch of BS to me, 2. It went up MORE than just the surcharge, so WTF is up with that? and 3. It was my first accident EVER since I started driving, like, 7 years ago -- it sucks enough already without my monthly payment going up over 30%! Give me a break!

Car insurance is a pain. But it's one of those things you hate until you need it, and then you L.O.V.E. it, so I definitely wouldn't do without. (Not like I have a choice anyway.) It's just that as soon as I think I've got it all behind me, it comes back to bite me in the ass. It's like that person who keeps telling you, "I told you so," when you've already realized you made (and paid for) a mistake. I feel bad enough already, thank you; I don't need your help.

Challenge

Looks like I failed with my hopes to post at least once a day. But when you fall off the horse, you have to get back up, right? (Unless your fall tragically renders you paraplegic or something, but I'm only speaking proverbially here...)

Soon I plan to post some of the things I've written in the past (as sort of a virtual portfolio), but that could take a while. In the meantime, I'm going to try to post at least something -- whether it's a link to an interesting or thought-provoking article/website, or an actual blog post -- once a day.

For now I'll leave you with a link to this website, OneHundredPushups. It claims to be able to have you doing 100 pushups in a row after you do its six-week training program, which is essentially a schedule of 5 sets of a certain number of pushups each day. It seems pretty reasonable and focused on beginners, with the first day calling for as little as 2 pushups each set.

I think push ups are one of the best and easiest (and by easy I just mean not requiring equipment or even a whole lot of space) total body exercises one can do, so I say give it a shot. It's essentially a matter of building up endurance, which takes consistent work; but if you think a healthy body is worth it (and it is), I'd say it's worth a shot.