DISQUS

by the way, can I post this? (giving full credit to you as author with a link to your blog, of course)

I wholeheartedly thumbs up this. It seems it's become so desirable to be independent, to not NEED anyone, that to need anyone is considered mentally unstable and undesirable and to WANT people around you is seen as no different from needing them. As if by desiring interaction and communication and socialization, you're telling the world that you can't handle things on your own and still be completely happy and fulfilled. But that's what people seem to expect- We're all supposed to be completely happy and fulfilled without anyone else and to have people pass in and out of our lives without it actually making a difference to us because we should all be so self-sufficient. And I think that's fucked up. I'm an independent woman, and I get a lot of enjoyment from doing many things on my own, but I don't always want to be by myself, and I don't always want to talk to myself or my journal, and I don't think it's due to weakness at all.

good lessons

I really need my picture taken again...

It seems kind of sad to me that you say you have no "real" friends there. What separates a real friend from an acquaintance? Maybe you expect too much. Balancing a family, career, and the obligations of that often leaves friends a little lower on the list of obligations for most of the people I know, but that doesn't mean they don't treasure or value the friends they do have and give when they can without expecting to receive more than they can provide. For me, it's about a mutual understanding of honesty, concern for each other and your lives, and sharing time, interests, and conversation when you can. I have friends that I hold in the same esteem as I hold my family, yet we hardly get the occasion to see each other or talk anymore, and I have friends that I see every day, that I know I can count on if I need something and would be glad if they called me in a moment of need. I consider all of these real friends, though my emotional connection with all of them varies significantly. Some of my friends are just good for talking, some of them are good for a good time, some of them are good for swapping babysitting, some for other reasons, and I never expect the same thing from one as I do from another.
Maybe I've misunderstood you, but each time you mention a lack of "true" friends, I wonder if I fall in that category. I know that you would "like" more from me than I can give, but I wonder if it devalues me as a person or a friend that I don't meet those wants... or maybe they're needs. I think of you as a friend, and I hope you think of me as a friend...not a disappointment.
-g

THat is SOOO funny. Way to go, Jess! (that's just like something I would do)

well, I can't tell you if you should choose quality or quantity, but I can give you my input and hope it at leaves gives you another angle to think on. I don't know if it works the same way in photography that it does in writing, but sometimes quantity is important in getting to quality because it's just the process of keeping the creativity flowing. I post a lot of things I write, and some of it's complete shit, but I keep writing it and posting it b/c eventually something good will come out. If I quit writing altogether waiting for something better to write about, then sometimes I just run dry and it's hard to start again.

awesome!

I HATE VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE!!!!! I'd absolutely rather key in a bunch of numbers on the key pad rather than speak to one of those things. I always have to repeat myself. They don't factor in a southern accent!!

love, love, love.

awesome metaphor, daniel. i like it a whole lot.

wow. very thought provoking indeed. i'm of the "i'd rather not know" variety.

both photos are awesome.

the one from san antonio, the one looking down the railroad tracks, and me:)

how very cool. i forgot how much i missed your blogs since i've been to lazy for much reading or writing of blogs as of late.

I've never been there, but I'd sure love to go. Maybe we can meet at lunch time or something some day soon?

I'm terribly disturbed...as well you should be too!!

birthday dinner?? Do you have a birthday here soon that I don't know about?

Give it a few more days...I'm going to see if I can't send some more folks your way. I want to see this book so, so badly, and my MOM bought a copy...a copy of a book in which her daughter appears naked...I've hardly ever been so proud:)

I can't believe you've done hardwood floors on your own. I'm so impressed! I'd love a photo party...or ANY of your parties for that matter. My in-laws have requested the girls for next week, meaning I might have some free time...if they don't back out on me this time like they did last time. I'm scared to get my hopes up or make any plans as of yet though.

I'm sorry for your pain and suffering, but that's seriously the most entertaining piece of writing I've read in quite a while.

and just in case you want to edit and change it, in the next to last paragraph you wrote "law of conversation" instead of conservation.

You've taken so many photos that I'd love to frame and hang in my house, and this is absolutely one of them. Brilliant.

I love obsessions...mine and others. I'm definitely an obsessive person and flit from one thing to the next from day to day, often returning to the same obsessions time and again. It gives me a focus.