Maybe it's just that I've become shy?

look! there I am!

Listen, I know, I KNOW, no one wants to read a blog about writer's block. It's a big no, for obvious reasons.  However, I don't care at this moment and I am going to go right ahead and do just that.

I am just confounded by my inability to blog in the past year or so.  It's something I used to love doing (see my old blog by clicking on jbfinallyblogs archive at the top of this page for evidence of this).  I do have a few theories on this, and maybe discussing them will shake something loose in my brain and get me over this hump.

Yeah, so I don't really think I've become shy.  I am still a very open person.  I probably share too much about myself in everyday conversation.  However, I do think the prevalence of information about people out in the world today can be a little overwhelming, and perhaps I am rebelling against it in some way. 

Let me give an example.   When I used to a server (waitress, but we called them servers) at California Pizza Kitchen, I, like everyone else, had a little tag on my shirt that listed my name and hometown.  Depite knowing full well that I was wearing this, it always used to bug the crap out of me when a customer would address me repeatedly by my name.  Jorli this, Jorli that, hey Jorli, can you get me another Arnold Palmer? (Double that if they were trying to be flirty.)  It just felt like they were trying to act like they knew me more then they actually did.  Listen buddy, I will serve you your Tequila Chicken Fetticini with a smile, but that will be the extent of our friendship, more than likely.

The internet these days feels like one big name tag, only it lists a lot more information. It is also not a coincidence that my shirking away from sharing personal information online, was a proportional response to the fact that my day job has become utterly and hopelessly intertwined with the web 2.0 and social media world.  I mean, even if you loved cupcakes, if you started working at a bakery, I am fairly certain you wouldn't have the same affinity for those delicious suckers once it became a part of your daily work day.

So what did I do? Besides, not blogging for what feels like a century?  Created two twitter accounts - one public id for work related thoughts (twitter.com/ws_jorli), and one private personal id (twitter.com/jorli) where I can say whatever I want.  Was this the right thing to do?  I don't know yet, but I do feel like I've regained some control over my privacy, while at the same time I am having a rough time trying to divide my thoughts in this unnatural, sectioned way.

Despite my heavily guarded personal tweets (where it turns out I hardly ever discuss anything personal), I love following people on Twitter I hadly know (well, as long as they are funny), so I recognize that I am being slightly hypocrital here.

Anyway, I'm working on figuring this out.  It does feel good to write again.  Thanks to Ann and Steve who never fail to nag me about my lack of blogging, no matter how much time goes by (and my Aunt Bonnie who almost always leaves a comment).  It may seem like I'm ignoring you, but I really appreciate that you haven't forgotten that it is something I really love doing.

Testing

Trying to see if I can blog from my phone.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Baby Mop!!!

Who knew there was such a thing?  And to think I was worried that my apt would be messier once the baby arrives!

http://dlisted.com/node/30785

Baby Mop from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

25 Things

This may be considered blog cheating, but I'm posting my 25 Things list from Facebook here too.  (original w/ comments can be found here).

1. I am both a dog person and a cat person. I don't think you have to be one or the other.

2. My mom taught me a lot about being a kind and giving person, and I'm very thankful for that.

3. I hate that I can be so bad keeping in touch with my friends that live far away. Even though I don't show it as much as I should, I hope they know how much I miss them. (On a related note, can more of you start using Twitter??)

4. My favorite movie is Tombstone. I can recite almost every line from it, and have twice visiting the city of Tombstone. (Candice, I'm sorry I lost all of the pictures!)

5. I am wary of people that have no favorite color or number. My favorite color is red and my favorite number is 5. This is one of the first things I will tell you when I first meet you.

6. My right pinky is significantly shorter than my left. I was born this way, but didn't notice until one day at volleyball practice when I was 15 years old.

7. I met my pinky hand twin while I was warming my hands over a fire in a shop in Japan. (This old man had a short pinky on his right hand, just like mine! We took a picture together.)

8. I would really like to be a teacher or professor someday.

9. I took off a week in school in 10th grade to attend Space Academy in Huntville, AL. Although I no longer want to become an astronaut, I do still consider myself a big nerd.

10. I feel fortunate to have traveled so much in my life so far, and I hope to do it even more in the future.

11. My boyfriend Steve never fails to put a smile on my face or calm me down when I'm stressed or upset. I think he is amazing and wonderful, and I know we will have a lifetime of adventures together.

12. I don't think I could cut it working from home if not for my dog Maeby and kitty Gordy to keep me company.

13. I feel like my creativity has been in hibernation for years now. I'm not quite sure what's holding me back.

14. My brother is really funny and smart and I wish he lived closer so we could hang out more.

15. I worry way too much.

16. Sometimes I can be a real hardass. Other times I am really laid back.

17. The best reason I can think of for getting out of bed in the morning is the possibility that something will make laugh that day. Hopefully, many times over. (The odds of this generally increase if Ang and other friends are on IM that day.)

18. I feel extremely lucky to have met so many wonderful people in my lifetime. San Diego, Kelley, New York...

19. I think mankind is generally good, and often rail against all the futuristic movies that always seem to paint such a bleak and dismal future for us.

20. I would rather give someone the benefit of the doubt and get screwed over than become a suspicious and mistrustful person.

21. My idea of a perfect evening is dinner with friends... appetizers, wine, entrees, talking, laughing, coffee and dessert!

22. Speaking of food, I love many things about New York City, but above all I love the many restaurants. No place like it on earth.

23. God, do I miss the mexican food from home though!

24. I am really glad I finally got around to writing this list. Now if I could do the same for my blog.

25. I am 12 weeks pregnant with my first baby. Words cannot express how elated I am about this!

Chase Bank is not my friend

I'm on the phone with Chase Bank...

me:  I'd like to cancel my checking account.

Chase:  Okay, let me transfer you to the retention department.

um, I don't want to be "retained", I want to finally leave this horrible bank and never come back! 

Turns out the retention department is offline for 15 min, so I'll have to call back.  Wtf? This is the 3rd time I have called to cancel my account and been unsuccessful for some reason.