Being Single Rocks

I heard someone once say she was single and then clarify that statement with "Well I have a boyfriend, but there's no ring on this finger, so I'm still single!"
What really qualifies one as being single though? Once you're in a monogamous relationship, you are no longer single and off the market right? But if you are just dating a person, or people are you still considered single? Are you 'single and a half' ? (Shakes, 2006)

At a recent family reunion (see picture below), I realized I was the only single person in their 20's. I also noticed I was the only vegetarian. While I know that vegetarians are prone to anemia, I don't think it predisposes one to singledom. While part of me wondered, hey if they have a bf/gf or fiancee and I don't, what's wrong with me? The other part of me thought, well maybe its better to not be in a relationship than be in one where your significant other won't let your family sing happy birthday to them on their birthday or won't read Harry Potter because witchcraft is evil.

Sure maybe I wouldn't mind dating someone. But while I'm not, I'm looking at the glass half-full and savoring the freedom it brings, as well as these other reasons.....

Being Single Rocks

1. Don't have to consult with anyone else when making big or small plans.
2. Never have to watch movies (Little Man) or TV shows (Joey) or listen to music (Dave Matthews) I don't like.
3. I get a more restful sleep than couples and even if I do share my bed, I always get a better sleep than the guy.
4. If I want, I can take advantage of Friends with Benefits. (And its probably always easier for a girl to find a FWB than a guy)
   
5. If I meet an awful guy or have a bad date, I never have to see or talk to them again. (Or even if he's not so terrible, I still don't have to call him back)
   
6. Don't have to be hospitalized because I'm 'addicted to love'
   
7. Don't have to have a DTR or 'No Expectations' talk with someone.
8. I don't have to divide my time between a boyfriend, my friends and his friends.
   
9. And finally as mentioned before, I can be short term ugly and not obsessively worry about how I will look if someone sees me naked.
   

Progress? Irony?

Saw these two stores next to each other on a drive through Central Virginia:

Confederate Cycles next to Unity Urban Wear.

Jockey goes 'Zidane' on his horse

and... "O'Neill was given a caution by stewards for his use of the whip in the race"

I think O'Neill should be made into glue and eaten by a pre-schooler.

Our World Leaders?

You may have thought Bush was pretty creepy when he felt up the German Chancellor:


But rest assured, he is not the creepiest World Leader around...
Russia's Putin:


Italy's former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi takes the cake:


Believe it or not, it gets worse or better (depending on your sense of humor):


Not sure if these happened while he was in office or not but regardless if anyone knows what the Italian's reaction was, I'd love to know!

Indie Goodness

My Monday Music Pick is:
Bell X1: album: Flock, Songs: My first born for a song, Rocky Took a lover, Natalie, Bigger than Me


Clever blurb from their myspace page:

"Bell X1 and Damien Rice used to be a band called Juniper. Juniper berries are used to make gin. "Gin and tonic dressing gown..." is a lyric from Bell X1's debut album, Neither am I, released in 2000 in Ireland. Ireland used to be poor, and now it's blingin, with scattered showers. Showers of critical acclaim followed the release of their (multi platinum n ting) second record, Music in Mouth, in 2003 in the UK and Ireland; the public too were keen. Keane, Snow Patrol, The Frames, Bon Jovi (?!) and Elliot Smith are some of the people that Bell X1 have toured with. With the song Eve, the Apple of My Eye on the latest OC soundtrack, the band recently played in New York and LA, where some of the OC cast came to see the show. Showing their ignorance, the band didn't know who they were being introduced to, bringing to mind the meeting of Homer Simpson and Billy Corgan - "Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins" ..."Homer Simpson, smiling politely". Their current record Flock was released in Ireland in October 2005 and went straight to number 1 in the pop charts, followed by many sold out shows and all that jazz. Flock is out in the UK now, and their next single is coming out very soon, so make sure to check back here for more information!"

And in slightly related news: I'm going to the Virgin Music Festival!!! (Keane, New Pornographers, Clap Your hands say yeah, the Killers, The Raconteurs, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who.....)
Jealousy may now commence!

Don't Hassle the Hoff

In honor of the cheesiest guy on television
I present, for your viewing pleasure

The Genius that is David Hasselhoff:

From 1999

(first saw on Shakes's site)
The lil blurb next to the video says this is from his hit 'hooked on a feeling'. Hit in Germany? Shakes, while you were in Germany for the World Cup, you should have questioned some of the Germans about their love of Hasselhoff.

And from 2006:


Secret Agent Man? I wish they had taken away more than just his name. Like maybe his talent. Oh wait, that would imply that he had some talent to begin with.

But don't forget, that above all else, he's a sensitive guy:

Don't Drink and Swim

(Courtesy of CuteOverload)

Psych 101

When dealing with clients, there are numerous clinical skills a psychologist has at her disposal. For example, I came across the technique described below while reading through one of my textbooks:

Spitting in the client's soup:
"When counselors determine that clients are getting a reward from maladaptive behavior, they may spoil the reward for clients by making them aware of the nature and consequences of this behavior"

Now the technique makes sense; by ruining someone's reward, it's not as reinforcing or satisfying and hopefully the client will be less likely to commit the maladaptive behavior.
So basically acting like a killjoy or your mom, may have some therapeutic value.

I'm really loving the name of the technique though, wonder how they chose that moniker as opposed to "Pissing in the client's corn flakes".

Word of the Day

Piloerection: aka Goosebumps or Goosepimples

"It was so cold and I was so scared, I had piloerection when David Beckham walked into my bedroom"

Please practice incorporating this word into your lexicon: comment and use it in a sentence.

Musica de Lunes

New Music to listen to:

Regina Spektor: Fidelity, Better, Samson, On the Radio


Very unique sound and a bluesy, jazz quality to her voice.
Listen if you like Norah Jones, Fiona Apple or Tori Amos





On the Radio





Samson

Two of my favorite things: Therapy and Comedy

Even before I decided to go to graduate school to become a psychologist, I loved Dr. Katz, the cartoon that was on Comedy Central till 1999. Recently, season one was released on DVD and Slate wrote an article about it,

" Its humor is relentlessly wry, droll, and self-conscious, and it grows out of mild domestic drama: playful living-room banter between a psychologist and his unemployed son, the son's inept flirting with his father's crabby secretary. In one episode, the son ruins his father's car by driving all day with the emergency brake on then justifies it by saying that everyone has a different sense of "emergency.""
That pretty good description of the show but another highlight are all of the patients that come to see Dr. Katz. They are comics and actors, like Mitch Hedburg, one of my favorite comics (up there with Dane Cook) His humor I think goes perfectly with the shows, its subtle and simple.


Doing therapy with patients, sometimes you really do want to laugh. Sometimes the person is trying to be funny, but more often than not they aren't. As much as I have learned to have unconditional regard and empathy for my clients and to help them express and explore their feelings, I have also learned the art of swallowing a yawn and suppressing a laugh. I even recovered quickly after my leg fell asleep and I almost collapsed to the ground when I got up to walk a patient out. Its all about the appearance of professionalism. Well that's at least one of the my priorities as a grad student and first time therapist.

So while stand up comedy and therapy may be two vastly different situations, I think when it comes down to it, both are places where the comic/client gets to say whatever they want, they get to be heard and appreciated and get feedback.
So why not combine the two in a cartoon? At least then you don't have to stifle the laughs!

Sign #19 that I haven't grown up yet....

....while my friends are considering when in their careers to get married or have a baby and if they will be making enough money to give their kids a better life, I'm thinking about when my next exam will be and when I can go out and drink next.