Human Relations

I first started this blog back in February 2012.  It seemed like such a great idea at the time, but I was working full-time and going to school three nights a week.  I had NO life.  So what was a good idea was abandoned rather abruptly. I posted twice (I think they might have even been on the same night) and then never again.  My life is starting to slow down as I enter a new phase.  I have officially finished the process of changing careers and am now working full-time as a registered nurse.

One thing that hasn't changed, I still feel like I need an outlet.  I want to have a way to express my opinions and views on the world as I see it.  I don't need tons of followers-- a few would be nice--but mostly I just need a way to stop the round and round internal dialogue that can keep me up at night.  So here it is: I'm back and willing to try my hand at this whole blogging thing again, even if the trendiness of blogging has reached it's peak.

First topic: Human Relations (not that kind).
It is interesting to look at the career choices I have made in life... teaching and nursing.  Both are very people oriented jobs.  What is interesting is I don't consider myself a people person.  I use to think maybe I was shy, but in an academic setting or when I am really passionate about something I have no problem speaking up and I have never had issues speaking in front of large crowds.  Thanks to Buzzfeed, I now just realize I am an introvert. Please refer to these hilarious and completely true Buzzfeed posts to get a better sense of who I am:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/awkward-moments-every-introvert-understands http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/problems-only-introverts-will-understand
Despite being a natural introvert (with resting bitch face an all...), I have chosen two professions that require me to interact with people with in very deep and real ways.  It has forced me to break out and try to become more extroverted.  However, today I tried and an had an epic fail.  It really made me question, "What the fuck is wrong with some people?"

Today, I had to attend a program for new graduate nurses.  They broke us into small groups that we will be meeting with once a month for the next year.  That's right...twelve people having to meet and get to know each other over the next year.  One of the other new nurses was Bosnian and had the same last name as one of my former favorite students.  So after the meeting we were standing next to each other in the elevator and I casually asked, "Did you have any relatives that went to Gateway High School."  She said, "No, there are 70,000 Bosnians in St. Louis, I don't know them all." I said, "Sorry, you happen to have the same last name as one of my old students, so I just thought I'd check.  She said, "My last name is like Smith" and then walked out of the elevator.  Are you fucking serious?  I was just trying to be nice and make conversation.  Asking if you were related to someone I know seriously offended you?

What I find hilarious and ironic is that not thirty minutes later as I was signing out for the day when one of the ladies running the program saw my last name was Stein and told me her maiden name was Stein.  She asked if I grew up in St. Louis and if we might be related somehow.  I explained that Stein was my married name and that my husband's family was from Webster and use to own Stein Brothers and Saratoga Lanes.  As it turns out, no relation.  There was never a point during the conversation where I felt offended that this lady was inquiring about my husband's relatives.  So as I said earlier..."What the fuck is wrong with some people?"  Guess this is why I prefer my life as an introvert and will resort back to a state of avoiding any and all small talk.  Oh, and dread seeing this girl once a month for the next year...

Why I can no longer shop at my favorite store.

Last night, I attended an "Oscar Party" at a coworker's house.  I enjoyed the traditional movie snacks-- nachos, popcorn, and candy... lots of candy.  I knew most of the people there, but somehow I got stuck sitting next to a woman I did not know.  From what I gathered, not being properly introduced, she use to work at my school.  I overheard her telling one of my coworkers that Rick Santorum use to be moderate and that his crazy antics are just an act.  I laughed and told her that if she asked the average Pennsylvania, they would disagree with her.  As a young woman living in Pennsylvania during his two terms as Senator, I heard enough crazy rhetoric to know he was no moderate.  Arlen Spector-- now that's a Pennsylvania moderate.  When Casey beat Santorum in 2006, I remember a sense of relief.  At the time, I was a registered voter in PA (thank you absentee voting) and had spent the summer interning at the Pennsylvania Commission for Women .  My whole summer I was wrapped up in educating, protecting, and advocating for Pennsylvania women's issues... including access to birth control. Let's just say Rick Santorum wasn't our biggest fan.  When he lost, I thought he would go crawling back to his sub-par law firm, with his sub-par law degree, and would never be heard from again.  BOY, WAS I WRONG.  He is back.  I am scared.  Which leads me back to my story about the inaccurate partygoer... She did say something I thought was quite interesting. She said that she no longer shops at Urban Outfitters because they donated to Santorum's campaign (I doubt THIS alone made her stop shopping there... she was in her 40s and not exactly urban size, if you know what I mean).  Based on her "moderate" info on Santorum, I wasn't really quick to believe her.  After all, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People all being owned by the same company-- seem to be liberal, free thinking, hipster type places.  The prices don't make them readily available to hipsters, but...You shop there and you ARE a cool, free-spirited, vintage-loving, mis-matched to perfection, non-conformist.  Only apparently, its all an illusion.  I did some research (or made Christopher look it up for me) and its true...sort of.  The company itself did not donate to Santorum, but its CEO did.  My bubble is burst.  I will no longer be shopping at Anthropologie (for at least a month).  If my money is going to go towards financing the Santorums of the world, I want it to at least scream "SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE" not pretend to be "Free People."  Brooks Brothers it is...

"Who ever felt this way..."  Natalie Maines voice is echoing through my head as I start my first post here on my new blog!  I have decided to start this blog because too often I hear, see, or read things that disturb me or frustrate me.  Currently, my only outlet is to complain to my husband.  I am lucky enough to have a great husband that listens, validates my arguments, and even strengthens them with his own opinions.  BUT (and there is always a but), I would like to get them OUT there and on the "record."  I thought about using facebook, but I hate reading other people's opinions on facebook, especially when I disagree.  I have to constantly fight the urge not to delete people.  Therefore, I don't want to pollute my own facebook page and thus my "friends" newsfeeds with my opinions.  Instead, I will continue to use facebook for the mundane, obligatory status updates (usually something about studying or taking a test) and I will share my opinions on the world here... my new blog.  I will however post links if any of my facebook friends are curious enough to discover my take on this world and its happenings.