That awkward moment when....

You don't actually know what the word awkward means. Here you go:


awk·ward  (ôkwrd)
adj.
1. Not graceful; ungainly.
2.
a. Not dexterous; clumsy.
b. Clumsily or unskillfully performed: The opera was marred by an awkward aria.
3.
a. Difficult to handle or manage: an awkward bundle to carry.
b. Difficult to effect; uncomfortable: an awkward pose.
4.
a. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence.
b. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks.
[Middle English awkeward, in the wrong way : awke, wrong (from Old Norse öfugr, backward; see apo- in Indo-European roots) + -ward, -ward.]
awkward·ly adv.
awkward·ness n.

I am constantly seeing "that awkward moment when..." posts. Some of them are funny. Such as "That awkward moment when you find out that your new boss is your husband's ex.", or "That awkward moment when you call your friend a bitch and she's standing behind you.". Yes, those are both pretty awkward situations. However, "that awkward moment when you can't find your cell phone" and "that awkward moment when you stub your toe and it really hurts!"? Not awkward. Inconvienent? Yes. Annoying? Yes. Even painful? Sometimes, yes. But not awkward. If you are going to constantly use a word, at least know what it means.

Small Business

I have noticed a major trend on Facebook. Everyone has a business of some kind. Some people are photographers, some are cake makers, or sell Avon. But I'm betting at least one person on your friends list has a business of some kind. If not, then you probably do. I have no problem with people promoting their business via a FB page. However, if you are going to do this, you should at least spell words correctly, and use proper grammar. I recently saw a page for a candy making business, in which the word marshmallow was spelled marshmello and homemade was homade. Rambling and run on sentences are very unprofessional as well. It's okay to promote yourself, but please do not post 17 times an hour, and never in all caps. STOP YELLING AT ME! If people are not responding to your many, many posts, I don't think it's because you wrote in lowercase letters.

On a similar note, if you are constantly posting about your business, and no one is responding, there might be a reason. Just because you own a camera, that does not make you a photographer, knowing how to work an oven does not make you a baker. A lot of people do have genuine talent, and do very well. For instance, I have someone on my friends list who makes hats. She does a wonderful job, and her page is very well written. I will gladly go to her in the event that I find myself needing a hat for myself, or a loved one. The people on my page, however, who have several different "business" that they post about non stop, with very poorly written pages/posts, do not, and will not, get my business. Just because it's on Facebook, doesn't mean that it shouldn't look professional.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS!!!!!!

Seriously. What is wrong with people?? Why does no one want to just take care of their own damn kids these days? Now I understand, some people have to work. That is understandable. But if you send your kid to a sitter every single weekend, especially if you work too, so you can party, then you should have waited to have kids. Plain and simple. Having a "date night" every couple weeks, or even once a week, fine. However, if you ship your kid off to anyone who will take him or her every chance you get, you disgust me. Or if you leave your kids home alone so you can go down the street to get wasted. You don't deserve kids. Some parents have kids who have died, or are dying right now. They have or had precious little time with their babies. Yet you so willingly give yours up?! Why? Honestly, tell me why? What in the world is more important than your child? Drinking and partying? Before you know it, your kid won't want to hang out with you. They will be a teenager, who just wants to go out with their friends. You'll have plenty of time to go out and do anything you want then. You can NEVER get this time back. People always make rude, snarky comments, and joke about the fact that I (almost) never have/let anyone watch my children. Why is it a bad thing that I enjoy being with my kids? They won't be little forever. One day, much too soon, they will have their own things to do. I will have plenty of time to myself then. Of course everyone, even myself, needs a break sometimes. But hang out with your kids sometimes too! I bet they are fun. You don't need to buy them everything under the sun to give them a good childhood. Just be there, with them. It doesn't matter how much stuff you cram into their room if they are never in it anyway! Now, before you start talking about "fostering independence" and all that crap, let me be clear. I am not saying that children should never be babysat, or that they should spend every waking moment with you. My children have been babysat. My older two both go to school, and do quite well. My oldest goes to his best friend's almost every day after school. The baby spends pretty much every moment with me, but he's only 10 months old, give me a break here. I am just saying that if every single thing you do, or are invited to, does not allow kids, you might need some new hobbies, or new friends. If every single weekend you need a sitter for the entire weekend, you might be partying a bit too much. My friend's little boy is sick. He very well might not be around next year. (It's no one you know Holly.) She has precious little time with her child. There are so many parents out there going through the same kind of thing. Just please, spend time with your kids! Next time you get that "No kids please" invitation for the 3rd time that month, consider sending your regrets. One day your children will thank you.

You should get married. You over there, however, should not.

My little sister and I were having a conversation recently, and she mentioned how she is annoyed by people who say that marriage is pointless. That it is "just a piece of paper", and they don't need it to prove anything. Now, I don't necessarily think that everyone needs to get married. However, I do think that couples, especially ones with children, should make sure to have some sort of legal documents if they choose to not marry. Such as a power of attorney, or a living will. Take for example, my sister and her boyfriend. They have been together for 20 years. That is more then half their lives. They have a child together, and are married in every way but legally. In their case, getting married would really only affect them legally. For instance, right now, if my not quite brother-in-law were to be injured and unable to make medical decisions for himself. His daughter is only 5, and he is not married to my sister. So, all medical decisions would fall on his mother. Luckily my sister gets along great with her, but that is not the case for everyone, and if you disagree with the decision that they make, you have no legal leg to stand on. Then on the other hand, some people get married to soon, or for the wrong reasons, and then end up divorced within a year. If you choose to get married, it should not be after only 4 months of dating, for insurance, or because you got pregnant. I get especially annoyed when couples end up with a surprise pregnancy, and are suddenly "engaged". No ring, no wedding planning, just forever engaged. Then they break up 6 months after the baby is born, still no ring, or wedding planning ever having happened. Or in some cases, the girl tragically suffers a miscarriage, and there is never a mention of the engagement again. Now, if you really feel that you need to get married because you are pregnant, fine. Get married. Do not, however, get "engaged" with no actual plans to marry, just because you think it's more socially acceptable. If you want to get married, get married. If you don't, then don't. However, please make sure that you are doing it, or not doing it, for the right reasons.

Your name is what...?

I was commenting on a friend's status recently, and I saw that another person had commented as well. A person by the name of Everlasting Gobstopper. Um...really?? I have noticed this trend. People put incredibly odd things in place of their name. But why? I know it was big on Myspace, to put weird things instead of your name as your "headline". However, on FB, it specifically asks for your first and last name when you sign up. So, what posses a person to put things like Everlasting Gobstopper,Little Bit, or K Nasty? Is your actual name too boring? Are you trying to remain incognito? Is it a witness protection thing? If it is, you might want to remove the 75 pictures of yourself, in the bathroom, making kissy face. Flashing a peace sign. This brings me to my next issue. Is it just me, or have young ladies become quite narcissistic these day? They will have quite literally (and I really DO mean literally Holly) hundreds of pictures of themselves, that they took, themselves. Usually in the bathroom. With almost always the same pose. Some have the kissy face/peace sign combo, others prefer the pout. Some do the half smile, look off to the side pose, while others do the "I'm too cool to smile" look. Now, of course, there is nothing wrong with having pictures of yourself. How else will people know that you really are you?  If you just got a haircut/color, or recently lost weight, or have a baby bump to show off, by all means, take the picture and post it! However, you don't need 17 albums that are all yourself, in the bathroom mirror. Also, if you are the beach, then bikini pictures are okay, and understandable. But a picture of yourself in a bikini, in the mirror, is just kinda silly. Now maybe I'm just old. I never got into the taking pictures of myself trend. I feel weird doing it, and I don't like having a ton of pictures of myself on my FB. It makes me feel vain. At one point I actually had none at all. Then my sister called to inform me that I needed to add some, so when my niece Lilliana asked to see my pictures, I was actually in some! So, I added a few. However, when I want a picture of myself, I hand the camera to whomever is nearby, and have THEM take the picture. If you like the way it looks when you take the picture of yourself, then by all means, carry on. But you don't need to add every single picture that you have ever taken of yourself to FB. That is what sites like Photobucket and Snapfish are for ;-)

You're how old...?

Okay, as you all know, the bad grammar/extra letters, things like that, annoy me. It's even worse, however, when it is adults doing it. I have come to expect it from the under 18 crowd. But, if you are old enough to legally drink in the United States, you should AT LEAST be able to spell the word 'what'. It is not wat, people, it is what. Also, although "gonna" is technically not proper, it is widely accepted. However, it is not gunna or ginna. It is short for "going to", therefore, it is g-o-n-n-a. I have a teenage girl and her mother both on FB. And sadly, they talk EXACTLY THE SAME! That brings me to another complaint I have. What is the deal with people taking pictures of themselves and their boyfriends (because I never, ever see married people doing this one) kissing, and posting them on FB?? Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but I don't need 75 pictures of us kissing to prove that. Which must be why I don't see this in the married folk. Anytime I see these pictures posted, it makes me think that the poster is either trying to flaunt their relationship to someone, or they are excited to finally be "grown up" enough to have a relationship. The exceptions to this, are pictures others take, such as wedding kisses, or kisses when a child is born. Now I don't object to the actual taking of these pictures of yourself kissing whomever you choose. But why do they need to go on FB, especially as your profile pic? Oh, and one last thing. If the way you are sitting on your boyfriend's lap can also be considered a sexual position, then it is not appropriate in front of family. Straddling him is NOT the same as sitting on his lap. FYI.

Get your own oven!

Something that I have notice in life, is that some people just enjoy being miserable. We all have that friend, or family member, who complains about everything, but when you try to help/offer a solution, they have a million reasons why "that just won't work". Well, it is even worse on FB. It goes something like this:

Complainer: I really want ribs for dinner, but I don't have any here :-(
Helpful Friend: Go to the store silly!
Complainer: I don't have a car :( :(
Helpful Friend: I can drive you if you want.
Complainer: I have no money, it sucks.
Helpful Friend: Awww! Well I will buy them for you!
Complainer: I don't have an oven either, and never will.
Helpful Friend: I have two ovens! Take one of mine.
Complainer: I have no room in my house for ovens. It's too small. Boo hoo :( :(
Helpful Friend: I have two houses too. I'll give you one of those as well :)
Complainer: I'm just gonna order a pizza.
Helpful Friend: .....

*New Post*
Complainer: I sure wish I had some ribs to go with my pizza!

I'm sure you have all seen those posts, or a variation of them. Maybe you've even been the helpful friend at some point. I know I have! I once had a friend like that. I tried and tried to help her all the time. She always had a reason why it wouldn't work. So, I no longer offer my help. Go ahead and vent to me, I'll still listen. But if I have offered you help, or solutions, and you just continue to complain and refuse to take the help, I won't offer it anymore. I do have many friends and family that at least TRY my solutions, or take my offers to help. So I continue to try to help those ones whenever possible. But the few that are still waiting on ribs, well, they will just have to get their own ovens!