I have created a monster

This came off way bitchier than I intended. I wrote with a quizzitive, slightly exhausted tone, please read like that...
I have facebooking for a few weeks and it is exhausting. I am not spending 8 hours a day on it, it's just exhausting from the mere volume of Facebook concept. There are soooo many people and things to do, quizzes to take, hugs to sends, fans to be, whew! I realize that I do not have to participate in everything, and I am not. When I do get an invitation to something I will look at it until I can be a little more discretionary (but really, I haven't been invited or tagged too much so far). The most overwhelming tasks is fielding the live invitations. I know this is selfish and the opposite point of Facebook, but I really don't want to meet you up for drinks. If I haven't seen you since grade school, let's just keep it as a passive relationship. Or let's talk a little and catch up and figure out if we want to take the friendship to the next level, sort of like on-line dating. I am not really looking for new friends, I just want to catch up anonymously, without putting any real effort into it, much like TV. I see it on the screen and enjoy it, but would I really be friends with Monica and Chandler? no. (Yes, you may roll your eyes, I know I am being ridiculous/asked for this/over-reacting)

The point of Facebook to me is to see pictures of my friend's kids and see where they went on vacation. It's nice to keep up on important news of others. This is great, I won't regret Facebook for that. I have learned a lot of important news since joining (an old friend just had her first baby; an acquaintance's son was in the hospital). I just get the feeling I am back in high school. It's all about collecting friends. Someone just requested to be my friend and we mutually avoided each other in high school. It was never one thing, we just decided early on that we didn't like each other for one reason or another. Now she wants to be my friend. Is it because we have grown up and she wants to take a personal interest in my life? Or does she want to be my friend to up her number or mock me silently? I am fine with the mocking, look hard girlie. I realize you aren't going to keep up with ever single person you are friends with, but I was browsing an old friend's friends and she was friends with people that she did not associate with at all back in the day. Again, maturity or friend whore? Please understand that I am not criticizing. Well, I am criticizing the 'let's meet up' requests. Please tell me the happy hour/dinner invitation will die down.
The culture of Facebook is fascinating. I am not up on the Facebook culture & courtesies and this makes me nervous. I am having a hard enough time finding my wall. I keep emailing people to ask them how to do something. It's a little embarrassing. I didn't realize I was so old. I feel like I should start watching Matlock because I am no longer a viable citizen contributing to society if I can't even navigate a simple social networking site.
OK, just to clear things up: I like Facebook. It is overwhelming both emotionally and, sadly, technically, but I am catching up.

The Great Napkin Debate

I know it's on your mind. I know you are staying up at night, asking yourself over and over: "What's better for the environment: paper, cotton or linen napkins?"

Well, fear not. I just read an article by Treehugger and I have the answer.

Treehugger looked at everything from growing each resource to the manufacturing process to the washing in your home, but I will skip all those details. Go to Treehugger.com if you are interested in more information.

And the winner is...well, that depends. In a restaurant, it's paper due to the amount of bleach and scorching hot water. In your home, the winner is cloth.

To go even further and slap paper napkins in the face, here are some ideas to take it to the next level.

• Purchase linen, not cotton (linen takes less water to grow)
• Make your own napkins from fabric remnants (but I would be constantly wiping my mouth on my dress because I could see the napkin in my lap!)
• Wash in cold
• Line dry your napkins
• When you go out, consider bringing your own reusable napkin

Just to be clear, I am not recommending any of these, some seem unhealthy and others are just weird, but it's food for thought.

Weekend

5 things I did this weekend...
1. power washed my driveway and patio.
2. went to see Harry Potter (from an outsider's perspective, they won't like it as much, it's a lot of set-up of characters and plot to go to war, but I enjoyed it. I laughed, I cried, 2 thumbs up)
3. Fought with 2 weed-eaters (they truly are my nemesis)
4. Shopped Soulard Farmer's Market with Celeste (showed restrained too. I only bought lettuce, tomatoes, blackberries and butter).
5. Had breakfast with the fam on Sunday.

5 things I have to do this week...
1. get allergy shots
2. get my plates renewed/update diver's licensee
3. Attend United Way's Volunteer Recognition Night.
4. enjoy the silence because my boss is out of town.
5. pick Chuck up from the airport on Thursday (he is out of town for nine days for work).

Pretty low-key; with this kind of weather, nothing seems to be a struggle (except those $%&# weed-eaters).

Because She Rocks

I will not throw my support to someone just because they have a vagina. Some may argue that about me, but it's true. Don't ask me my opinion on Hilary, it's not polite.

I am skeptical of anyone in politics or the government, so when someone does come around that actually makes me pause. I get a little tingly.

Sonia Sotamayor. Now there's a class act. I am so excited for her. Her background is truly the American dream that we all strive to become. She grew up in the Bronx housing projects, graduated valedictorian of her high school and when one of her teachers suggested she apply for Princeton. Sotamayor replied, "What's that?"

In interviews of former employers of Sotamayor, one word kept coming out over and over: impressed. Everyone in her past seems to be impressed by the way she handles herself, her fairness, and her abilities. She seems to have be exactly what we are looking for in the US: fair & even-handed.

Sotomayor has more experience than other judge on the Supreme Court, which doesn't make her qualified for the job, but definitely makes me think she has seem a lot more than most. The committee that analyzes all Supreme Court nominees gave Sotameyer the highest rating eve in a nominee. And after 4 days of questioning, it seems that she has won over even her opponents.

Get to know her, you will be impressed.

10 ways to cool your house

Odd coincidence that I am posting about staying cool on a St. Louis weekend in July and it is not even suppose to hit 80 degrees.
1. Use ceiling fans. Fans use a fraction of the power as A/C. Save some cash: keep your A/C set at a higher temp and run the fans. Also, consider running your fans as long as you can take it before turning on the A/C. Energy Star says it best, ceiling fans keep us cool rather than cooling the entire room.
2. Plant a tree. This isn't probably the best return on an investment. Keeping the south side of your house shaded is great in the summer. Spending the money on gigantic shade trees is expensive and planting small trees and waiting 15 years for the shade are both not the smartest choice. I think I am pointing this out to all of those that have shade on the south side. Be happy and feel lucky.
3. Don't cook inside. If you need to cook, think about your microwave and grilling as first options. This may not be the time to start your winter prep and bake 8 pies to freeze.
4. Open your windows. On those days you choose to rest the A/C, create a breeze through your house using science. Open windows on the bottom section on the upwind side and the top section on the downwind. The low pressure this creates will suck air through your house. It's the basic technology of airplanes (I read that, I didn't know that). Now good luck figuring out what is downwind and upwind.
5. If you are looking for an investment, awnings are a low/mid-priced expense that can save money.
6. Dress appropriately. Just like winter, when I tell you to suck it up, save some money, and put on sweater on (wow, I have just turned into my father). Wear light, loose clothing to stay cool in your house.

Have a great weekend and enjoy this amazing weather.

Best of...

With the All-Star game consuming St. Louis this weekend, everyone is coming out with their suggestions for the fanactics to do when they are not in line waiting for something baseball related. If they can, I can. Here is my list, ala RFT. I had to start small and keep it to restaurants. Here we go...

Top 6 Restaurants in St.Louis (in no order):

1. Acero (Maplewood)

2. Jimmy's (Clayton)

3. Niche (Benton Park)

4. Dewey's (I know it's a chain, but they do good on so many levels) (U City/Kirkwood)

5. Tani Sushi (Clayton)

6. Modesto (The Hill)

My choices are based on consistency, decor, originality in menu, and deliciousness (and the chef at Niche was named one of the top chefs in Food & Wine last year)

Best Pizza:

1. Dewey's (U City/Kirkwood)

2. Il Vicino (Clayton)

3. Three Monkeys (Tower Grove)

4. Black Thorn (Tower Grove)

5. Pirrone's (NoCo)

Best Tapas:

1. Modesto (The Hill)

2. Barcelona (Clayton)

3. Mosaic (downtown)

Best place to take out of town guests:

1. 1111 Mississppi (downtown/brewery)

2. Vin de Set (downtown/brewery)

3. The Stable (brewery)

4. Rooster (breakfast) (downtown/washington)

Best place for a drink and sunset:

1. Cielo's (Four Seasons) Don't miss this one, but go somewhere else for dinner.

Best place to take locals:

1. Tani Sushi (Clayton)

2. The Stable (brewery)

3. Local Harvest (for lunch) (Tower Grove)

Places that have impressed me, but I can't make a comment because I have only been there for drinks and apps:

1. Scape (CWE)

2. Frazer's (brewery)

Honorable Mentions:

Remy's, Terrene, Pi, Harvest, Companion, Duff's, Atomic Cowboy, The Crossing, Bottleworks

Did I miss anything?

Too busy...

Too busy to post. It is 80 degrees and no humidity in July! Go outside and take in the amazing weather.
Wow. Wow. Wow.