If Facebook existed back in the day

Courtesy of an email that was forwarded to me (and if you offended by this, there's nothing I can do for you). Enjoy!

Facebook has struck again

Yesterday I posted a video spoofing Michigan tourism's recent commercials with the 'Pure Michigan' catchphrase (in the same vein as the Bud Light's 'Real Men of Genius' radio ads). The one that was sent to me was spoofing U-M fans, mainly men that buy their Michigan shirts from Walmart, those that didn't graduate from college and yet still wear the maize and blue proudly, and those that go overboard with their fandom and wear things like the maize and blue wigs and face paint. The spoof ended by saying that the women in Ann Arbor are lesbians because of it, as in since all of the men in the area are like this, it's better to just date a woman.

This made me chuckle so I posted it on my Facebook page and a few friends got the joke too and then along comes my cousin who was somehow offended by this and left a comment asking if we also found the n-word funny. I discovered this comment when Big A was online so he went to her Facebook page but couldn't see anything because they weren't friends. I'm pretty sure they were so I logged on and checked and sure enough, she and my aunt both un-Facebook friended me. I'm not sure what she found offensive since the spoof used the correct term (lesbian) and I'm pretty sure she's not a wig-wearing, face painting U-M fan.

I sent her a message telling her that obviously I didn't post it to offend people. As I was writing it though, I had a moment of clarity: she was looking for any reason to "unfriend" me both on Facebook and in real life which is why she blew a small thing so out of proportion; which is why I've spent the last 6+ years not talking to her and seeing her at the occasional Christmas gathering or only getting tidbits of what she's up to from her mom until she decided to get a Facebook page and then because of some obscure online etiquette rule, she felt she had to send me a friend request. This same theory applies to her mother whom I rarely talked to after I got married. I use to idolize them both growing up, they could do no wrong. As I grew up however, my view drastically changed and now I have no respect for them. Now I think they are threatened by me. I'm a self-sufficient woman and they have always had to depend on men to survive. Even now my cousin is 50 years old and still survives financially with the help of her step-father (she's driving their car, she's on their cell phone plane, I'm pretty sure he paid for her recent dental work since she has no insurance). I see who they really are. They can fool most people that don't know them more than socially but not me nor my brothers and they don't like that. My mom always use to say that there were two truths when talking to them - the real truth and their version of it.

I'll admit that I was upset last night but 24 hours later, I don't regret posting the video. I have a great immediate family and friends that more than make up for those two.

The Power of One (Vehicle)

Back at the end of May, Big A's lease on his vehicle expired. With there being no second income currently and he not having any summer classes, we decided to just live with one vehicle. Other than this lone vehicle's semi-frequent trip to the mechanic since then and the need to do a bit more planning in advance, there hasn't been an problem. When he needs the car, he just drops me off at work in the a.m. and picks me up in the afternoon.

During the last trip to the mechanic when we were home for 2 days sans vehicle, I looked into our public transportation option. In November we have a millage on the ballot to vote for regarding public transportation and at first, I was a firm 'No'. Now I think I'm quite the opposite. It's nice to know that if I'm sans car for whatever reason that there is an affordable Plan B (renting a car seemed a bit expensive).

I have yet to take the bus but I know the routes that I would take should I need to take it home from work or for Big A to take in the a.m. to his classes and I would then pick him up in the evening when the buses no longer run. The latter is the more likely possibility since he isn't keen on me taking the bus even if I can ride it for free thanks to my employee I.D. but Big A gets a student discount which would enable him to ride all semester for $10.

Having just one vehicle has been an interesting experience but that won't keep me from not investing in a second car once it's feasible. As with this whole unemployment experience the last 3 years, I will just appreciate that second car more now than I would have if I hadn't known life with 1 car.

Entertaining the world one person at a time

Today at the first U-M tailgate of the 2010 season, an old high school friend of my younger brother stopped by. After saying hi to each other, Jonny went on to say that my Facebook page is his most read page. Ben, another Facebook friend/tailgater who was standing nearby, seconded the comment and proceeded to mention my status from a few weeks ago regarding Murf and public transportation (which didn't quite work out which is why there isn't an accompanying blog entry but I did consider it for a few minutes while sans car). This isn't the first time someone has given me props in person for my status updates, posting of bad 80's video's and the accompanying comments, etc. I guess I'm funny.

Originally I started making it a point to do status updates every morning because the SIL lives for the morning ones (she has said as much). She likes to know my quirks like my weekly stops at Starbucks for a hot chocolate and the female who works there that is struggling to remember my name or being frightened at another driver at 6:10 a.m. because he was wearing a Hawaiian print shirt that early in the day. I think I might have 95 other people also coming along for the ride and even though they don't actively participate on my Facebook page, in person it has become clear that while my main objective is to entertain myself, others seem to be entertained as a by-product.

I guess I'm living up to my stated Facebook motto of entertaining the world one person at a time.