Life streaming

I found this in my drafts folder from quite a while back but it still rings true. In fact I think I have given myself something to think about!

Have people forgotten what it’s like to be alone? To be alone with your own thoughts and only yourself to listen to them?

Sometimes I think that people, caught up in the new media, social media, digital economy have forgotten that they are in fact still humans. No need to log every moment of your day, every thought, every whim, every lunch break. It’s just not that interesting. Lonely? Phone a friend. Or better still, scrape your bum off the sofa or office chair and go see them. Talk to them face to face, not through a screen or keyboard.

No one cares that it’s lunch time in your office right now or that you’ve just burned your hand while cooking dinner. If you can still tweet about it then you’re obviously fine.

Sometimes I catch myself doing it. I know why I do it. It’s a loneliness thing.  Tweeting or using Facebook for business purposes is one thing but when you get used to having an ever-willing audience, a community in which you can participate and belong to at any moment of the day, it’s hard to ignore the call when the house is empty and it’s just you, the tv and the laptop.

And yet when I do ignore it, I feel the better for it. A few hours of ‘me’ time. Visiting friends, visiting family, seeing a movie, watching tv, catching up on housework, reading a book, whatever it may be, not very exciting but better than sitting back telling the world about how bored I am.

My poor head

When someone intimates that you might have been dropped on your head as a baby, thus explaining all of your problems, eccentricities and quirks I tend to think “Haha, good one!”.  HOWever…

I found out from my mother recently that she had in fact dropped me on my head. Well not dropped me, I fell out of my high chair or off the kitchen table or something and had ‘a lump the size of an egg’ but sure you never saw anyone (doctors) and you’re grand aren’t you? Haha.

*gulp*

A lump the size of an egg? No doctor? What other horrors are lurking in my past…? I dread to think!

“Ah sure you’re grand.”

Girly stuff

Not so long ago I went with The Mammy to a recording of For One Night Only starring Imelda May. Let’s just be clear…I loved Imelda May. LOVED her. And after the recording of the show…I adored her even more. You couldn’t meet a more honest, down to earth, real and genuine person. She is just wonderful and a truly happy person, it radiates out from her not only when she’s singing but when she was being interviewed too and most especially when talking about her family.

On the night Imelda looked amazing in a retro cut white dress with a rose pattern:

She looked amazing and wore sparkly red shoes and I wanted it – the whole outfit!! So imagine my delight one day last week when I spotted that exact dress on a dummy outside Retro in George’s Street Arcade! I went in, I asked was it the same dress (it was) and I checked that they had my size (they did). I’m not sure I can carry off white with red roses but they had the same dress in different patterns. I have made a dress-up date with a pal from work and tomorrow on our lunch break we are going to go and try on dresses. I will try on that dress.

For the first time in a long while, I have some money to spend on myself. This is a major treat for me and I can’t wait. If they have those sparkly red shoes too – sold!

Arranged Marriage

Out with The Granny recently, my sister decided to ask about arranged marriage. I can’t remember how exactly but it was relatively related to what we were talking about.

“So, did anyone ever marry the wrong person back in your day?”

“Yes, ME” replies The Granny.

“Oh no, I meant a person that wasn’t approved of or who turned out to be a nasty piece of work?”

All said in hushed tones across the restaurant table.

“Or were there any arranged marriages?”

According the The Granny, yes one of her aunt’s marriages had been arranged. Rewind to 1940s Wexford where it was all about the land you had and the living you could make from it. There was a local bar, Murphy’s, where a certain bachelor farmer would go from time to time for a drink or two and a chat with Mr. Murphy behind the bar. He was a man in his forties and he made it known to Mr. Murphy – who surely knew every man in the surrounding area (with and without a daughter) – that he was on the lookout for a wife.

Off to a good start…kinda

In my first post of 2011 I mentioned that the previous year had started on a low personal note but had improved over time. This upward slant has continued – hooray! – culminating in me finding a job that I like and being given a permanent contract.

Now the ‘kinda’ good start is this. I was made permanent in this job that I like in a company that is defying current trends and growing bigger almost daily. My new contract started on the day of my birthday – perfect timing. So you can imagine the growing unease of finding out that one of my very best friends is due to have a meeting in work – also on her birthday – in which she will more than likely be made redundant or be told when she is being made redundant.

She is still delighted for me and so am I. Another friend told me today she has found herself a new job and handed in notice at her old place.

Swings and roundabouts. Ups and downs. Hopefully it’ll work out for the other friend soon.