Everything is fake.

Do you ever get that feeling?  That everyone you're "friends" with on Facebook/Twitter/whatever isn't really there?

Maybe it's this virus talking, but wow, I'm having a moment.  Part of me wants to delete my Facebook account because I'm tired of interacting with other people through a screen.  It's just so weird and unfulfilling.

Anyway, there are myriad things that bother me about the Internet lately, and social media is just one.  It's hard to put my finger precisely on what bothers me about it all, but I think a large part is the sheer ignorance of the masses who have this huge resource literally in front of them at all times.  How hard is it to look something up and verify its accuracy instead of spreading bad history or advice or poorly researched news reports?  Oh, it's easy, but everyone's an expert because they have blogs or Reddit profiles, so they don't NEED to do any actual work, right?  Right.

So discouraging.

It was inevitable, I guess

Since I got laid off in August, my immune system hasn't been quite the same.  I've had two colds, a nasty stomach virus, bronchitis, and another stomach bug since then.  Today, I have a very sore throat and very congested sinuses.  I don't know what's going on, and I hope it'll be gone soon, but I've had to put some of my projects on hold since I just don't have the focus or energy right now.

But I tell you what, if this sore throat is worse tomorrow, I'm going to Instacare.

Blar.

Because I can, that's why

(I get the feeling that I'm going to have a hard time coming up with original titles for things, so, you know, don't judge.)

Today I ate leftover Christmas candy.  Because I can.

I figure, at this point in my life, I might as well do things because I can.  Why am I going to Japan in March?  Because I can.  (Also, can you say "once in a lifetime trip?" Because I can. See what I did there?)  Why do I want to replace my very basic light fixture with a tiny chandelier?  Because I can.  Why do I want to wear sparkly things?  Because I can.

My favorite color is pink, so I have bright pink curtains I bought in the kids' bedroom decor section at Target.  Because I can.  I have these sequined tops that I've only worn once each, but I bought them because I could.  Will I buy more?  Probably.  Because I can!

Words of affirmation in the face of age, that's what they are.  Words of defiance.  Words of empowerment.

Yeah, girl.

Well, thank goodness THAT'S over.

So, hey, it's the first day of 2014, and I'm ever so glad.  I've named a few past years (2011 was The Year Of The Eyelid Twitch [seriously, that sucker went for about 7 months and was exhausting], 2012 was The Year Of The Weird Raw Nose That Refused To Heal [I blame seasonal allergies and give lots of credit to a great dermatologist who gave me the magic bullet to cure it]) and I think 2013 will be henceforth and forever known as The Threefold Year of The Puffy Eye, The Pinched Nerve, and The Two Month Long Cold That Became Bronchitis.  It could also be known as The Threefold Year of Two Stomach Viruses, The Depressing And Miserable Job, and The Great Theater Experiences.

Yeah, 2013 was, um, interesting!  And challenging!  And some parts of it were really great!  And some parts of it were horrible!  (Try having an eyelid that randomly gets red and puffy for no good reason and makes it look like someone hit you.  Try having that eyelid redden and puff up every other week for, say, three months.  Good times.)  (Also, the depressing and miserable job.)

Let's just say that I'm very happy to see it go.  Happy because I really did have some great experiences and some really good times and met some really stellar people, and happy because I never have to deal with some of the depressing and miserable events again.  So, YAY FOR 2014!

2014...

In which I am, so far,

• Still unemployed
• Still single (but I can deal)
• Going to Japan (the unemployment is NOT helping my anxiety levels about this one)
• Going to Phoenix
• Going to Baltimore
• A member of an auxiliary presidency in my ward for the first time ever
• Still running out of space in my parents' house
• Still wanting my own place but unable to afford it
• Still eating too much candy
• Still afraid of and intrigued by CrossFit
• Telling other people they're why I can't have nice things
• And wanting to go to Fancy Parties and wear Fancy Things

This should be a fun year.  Seriously.

If I don't spontaneously combust because of stress.

....hold me....