Friday, July 23, 2010

To Donate or Not to Donate – That is the question

Egg donation is a hot topic these days – and no, I do not mean donating a dozen chicken eggs to a food bank.  I am talking the eggs out of a woman’s womb. 

Nowadays, more and more women are spending more time becoming educated and focusing on their career rather than getting married and having a family right out of high school and/or college.  However, once some of these women decide that they are finally at a point in their life to get married and have children, their biological clock has already slowed the ticking.  For these women and others who have infertility issues, not being able to conceive a child can be disheartening and she may feel like a failure.  Especially as our society dictates that having children is still the norm (although now it’s fewer is better).  Luckily, great advancement in reproductive technology and infertility treatments provide many of these women the opportunity to have a family of their own, albeit in the non-traditional form.  Adoption, IVF, and surrogates have become the rage these days in the reproductive world! 

One other route that some women who can’t produce their own eggs are taking is through egg donations.  Now, I use the term donation here very loosely because the egg donors are compensated for their “dedication, time, effort, and discomfort,” as one agency puts it.  What is the price that one pays for someone’s eggs?  For some places and people, the price increases with education, intelligence and good looks.  Diane Sawyer did a piece on egg donors, citing that some parents were willing to pay upwards of $25,000+ for eggs that meet a certain criteria.  $25k???  Seriously, whoa!!  That’s like, a looooot of money.  One chick who donated six cycles said she was “compensated” almost $100k for everything. OMG! 

I bet some women out there are thinking, “Where do I sign up??”  It sounds so easy peasy.  But getting that much money is very rarely.  I guess the average is around $5,000 a cycle and anymore than $10k is considered inappropriate.

Now, I saw the clip above and any real data on compensation AFTER I considered donating my eggs.  Yes, if you didn’t get from the title of this blog post, I am considering donating my eggs.  WHY?  Well, the money would help of course, but the main reason is being able to help another couple live their dream of having a family.  Being able to put a smile on some woman’s face because I had some part in her having a daughter or son puts a smile on my face.  And I am not sure if it is possibly, but my womb is smiling and the mere thought of it as well.  Seriously, if a womb could smile, it would be doing that. 

Since I live in a small area outside of a big city, the compensation really isn’t that much.  Only about $3,5000.  And that is before taxes mind you.  So if I go through with this, it really isn’t about the money.  And I am perfectly fine with that.  Because I don’t want it to be about the money.  Yes, it would be nice to pay off that credit card a bit sooner, but that is going to happen regardless.  So my reasons for this is mostly for selfless reasons. 

Right now, I am in the process of completing three very long-ass applications.  I will go into more detail on everything in another post, but I am still a bit wishy washy on whether I really am going to go through with it or not.  Since egg donation is relatively new, there has not been a lot of research on the long-term effects.  And I would like to have children of my own someday.  Of the research that does exist, it shows that only a very small percentage of women were not able to have children of their own or had some other negative effects.

Hmmm… so much to think about.   

Sunday, July 18, 2010

So what are you up to now?

Went to the 10-year reunion.  It was more eventful than I was honestly expecting.  I went with three of my friends, so I never have to do the awkward standing around figuring out what to do shuffle.  But still, what is the etiquette for reunions?  As I mentioned in my last post, do you hang out with and talk to only the same people from high school??  Answer – Yes. 

In high school, I knew of a lot of people (i.e. I knew their names, who their associates were, what they were known for) but a lot of people didn’t know me (at least I think they didn’t).  I never went to the big high school parties.  Never hung out with the popular kids.  I never got into trouble.  I had my core group of friends and that was fine with me. 

So at the reunion, at first I wasn’t sure if it was the norm to go up to people that you didn’t talk to and catch up with them.  I really don’t know how this thing works!  Do you go up to Popular Girl X and say, “hey Popular Girl X!  Remember me??  How have you been??”  Then in my head, Popular Girl X responds with a look that says “I don’t fucking know and I don’t fucking care” but says “No, remind me again?”  And after you tell her your name, Dorky Girl Pi-squared, she gasps and says “Oh my god!  You look so different! It’s so great to see you!” when in all honesty she has no clue who you are and really doesn’t care too much. 

Do I really want to go through the same humiliation that I went through in high school?  Nope.  (Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit… high school wasn’t THAT bad.)  So I stayed with my little group of friends.  We caught up on relationships, commented on how we are happy we don’t have kids right now, talked about mortgage payments and student loans.  You know, adult stuff.  (The somewhat adult talking about adult things?  CA-RA-ZY!!)  And I was perfectly satisfied with that.  Now, we did catch up with a handful of other people that maintained a similar high school “status” to what we did.  But did I venture out of my safety circle much – nope. 

There were a couple of people that I randomly talked to, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I saw a lot of people that I knew, but was never really friends with.  Should I have said ‘Hi’ to more?  Yeah, probably.  But honestly, who went home thinking “Oh, I wish I would have been able to talk to DeAnna”?  Probably no one.  I figure, I didn’t talk to you in high school, I haven’t talked to you in the past 10 years, and chances are, I probably won’t talk to you after this. So why bother? 

Maybe I should change my attitude on this, but the people who are important to me, I know how to get a hold of and talk to/see them a couple times a year anyway. 

Plus, there is always Facebook. 

Friday, July 16, 2010

Facebook = Instant Reunion

So, my 10-year high school reunion is tomorrow.  10 years.  10 effing years since I finished high school.  10 years and I still don’t feel like an adult!  haha!  I still have winter, spring and summer breaks.  I don’t go into work until 10am-ish.  I get to joke around with college kids.  Is this what an adult is supposed do??  

Normally, the high school reunion is a time to catch up with old high school friends, see how fat the big bitch became and how many children the class slut ended up with.  You find out who ended up as the plastic surgeon and who is still working his/her high school job.  (Don’t say you don’t judge, when we all judge other people in some way!  And you KNOW that is the real purpose of high school reunions.) 

However, in the past 7 years or so, this handy dandy little social networking site has become pretty popular.  It goes by the name of Facebook.  Have you heard of it??  Anyway, with Facebook you can now find all the people you went to high school with (as long as they are cool and on FB too… yes, I am so cool, I call it FB rather than Faccebook) and become “friends” with them.  And I use the term “friends” very loosely.  Majority of the people I am “friends” with I never talk to.  After you become friends, the next step is to FB stalk them.  That means going through all 14 photo albums of their parties, trips to Europe, dogs, Christmas 2008, wedding, babies, etc.  You figure out what they have accomplished or not accomplished since high school.  There is a lot of information that you can get on one’s FB profile.  Seriously.  Sometimes more information than I really need, but I’ll still read it.  While looking at the pictures and all this information, you would do the same thing as you would at a physical reunion – judge! 

  • Oooh he’s gained some weight
  • The ugly ducking cleans up pretty well
  • Still an asshole
  • Wow, I can’t believe she became a teacher
  • They still look the same. 
  • Wow – talk about plastic surgery!  Almost looks as bad as Heidi Montag-Pratt!!
  • Six kids??  Seriously???  Ever heard of birth control??
  • How did he end up with a girl like her??

You get the point. (although this makes me wonder what people say about me!! haha!)

So if you already know what these people that you haven’t talked to in 10 years have done/are doing, then what’s the purpose of a reunion these days?  There really isn’t any curiosity anymore.  Will the reunion regress back to the high school days where everyone stays with their old cliques and only talks to the same people from way back in the day?  With the nerds and the jocks take shots together?  Will there be the “Hey, I’m really sorry about throwing you in your locker during high school.  I was an asshole back then but I have changed” conversation? 

I guess I will find out tomorrow… although Facebook has kinda taken some of the fun out of reunions. 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Like WHOA!!

So my last blog post was almost two months ago.  That means, for the past two months, I HAVE BEEN AN ADULT!!!  Not somewhat of an adult or impersonating an adult, but an actual living, breathing adult.  Foz rizzle!  (ahhhh soo good to be back as somewhat of an adult!) 

“Now De, what adult things have you been doing?” you ask?  Let me make you a list:

  • officially closed and moved into a house the end of May
  • adopted a new puppy, Deuce
  • wrote and successfully defended my dissertation
  • BECAME DR. DE!!!

Um, talk about life changing.  All of it.  Every single damn day for the past two months.  If it wasn’t the house, then it was the dissertation.  If it wasn’t either of those two, then it has been something to do with the puppy.  For instance, 30 seconds ago, I hear a loud “BLEGH!!” coming from the mud room to find that Deuce just puked up water on the floor.  Don’t ask me why he puked water, but I am sure he is fine.

So, over the next few weeks or so, I will chronicle some of the happenings from the past two months and what is in store for me in the next few.  Let’s just say, big things are occurring.  I’m talking 10 year high school reunion.  Starting up teaching again.  And to really get the pot going, I am really considering becoming an egg donor. (WHAT?!?!) 

Despite all the adult things that have been going on, I continue to assert that I am not an adult but only somewhat of an adult.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Dissertation. Blahsertation. Adultertation.

Semester is over with.  No more grading.  No more students.  No more lecturing.  I should be relaxing after a busy year, but this week I have been busier than ever.  You see, being somewhat adult does have its consequences.  My consequence – not being done with the dreaded dissertation.  ugh… just hearing the word dissertation makes me cringe.

A week ago I was thinking about alternate career choices so I don’t have to finish writing the thing I shall not name.  Below are some of the options I came up with:

  • Photographer
  • Phone sex operator
  • Publix cashier
  • Etsy seller (not sure what I would sell though)
  • Dog trainer
  • X-ray technician (I read somewhere that it is a decent paying gig but you don’t need a fancy degree)
  • Lottery winner
  • Professional blogger
  • Wedding planner
  • Cake decorator (going back to my DQ days)

What could you see me doing as a career???

I know, I know… you are saying, “Just finish the damn thing and you won’t have to worry about changing careers!”  And this week I have been busy in the attempt to finish up some of the loose ends.  I’ve watched Season 1 of Lie to Me, Season 2 of Heroes, and working on Season 3 of Heroes.  I need background noise and other things while I work, so it was for the better.  But needless to say, in a matter of 5 days, I pulled 2 all nighters, stayed away for 42 hours straight, and pushed out the first four chapters of my dissertation.  Granted, most of it was already written, but there was a lot of revising I had to do, along with formatting tables and blah blah blah-sertation.  But I feel good about where it is going.  I just hope my committee feels good about it as well…

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Brown Chicken, Brown Cow!!

 

There are many variations of this joke, including the one above (isn’t that little girl so cute when she says the punch line!! Although I doubt she really understands the humor in the joke… or maybe she does):

What do you get when you mix a brown chicken with a brown cow?

What did the farmer with the brown chicken and brown cow say?

What are the two dirtiest animals on the farm?

And if you still haven’t “gotten” it – The answer is ‘brown chicken brown cow’ but said in 70s porn music manner.  Bow chicka bow wow!  NOW do you get it?? 

Funny, right!! This never gets old… never.  I will be 80 and saying this to my grandchildren.  LOVE.  IT.  :)  When the Boyfriend and I are watching TV and see that the characters may be engaging in some love making, sexual intercourse, fondling, etc., we always say “They are going to brown chicken brown cow!” 

il_fullxfull.34524052[1] Since I love this joke, I love the print above!  I am seriously considering getting this for the new house.. fo realz!  Check out Bella Bella on Etsy.  Spread the word on the Brown Chicken Brown Cow!!  There are all sorts of T-shirts that have this on it, but even as a somewhat adult, I think I am too old to be wearing a shirt that has ‘Brown Chicken Brown Cow’ on it.  Although PD does have a shirt that says “I Heart Boobs” (*rolls eyes* I knooooow… luckily a friend borrowed and it has yet to be returned), I think my days of wearing inappropriate T-shirts is over.  So long my dear “Is that a keg in your pants, ‘cause I’d like to tap that ass” shirt… sigh. 

FYI Even though I probably won’t wear the t-shirt, one of my goals for my future wedding is to incorporate a brown chicken and a brown cow somewhere somehow.  Not everyone will get it, but those who do know that it is definitely us!  

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Everyone poops!

We have all heard of the children’s book “Everyone Poops,” where we learn that ‘an elephant makes a big poop’ and ‘a mouse makes a tiny poop.’   How can you not love this book!  Below is a “trailer” to the book if made into a movie – like “Where the Wild Things Are”. 

While the book teaches kids about pooping, it’s a reminder to us adults and somewhat adults that we all poop.  Even the women of the world.  I know, it’s shocking.  Slim, dainty, sophisticated women are taking big dumps all over the world.  It’s true.  The book says! 

The actor or actress you lust over – s/he poops.  I bet they have had explosive diarrhea at least once in their life.  Can you imagine Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Brad Pitt, and all Presidents of the United States of America having explosive diarrhea?  It’s happened.  Fo realz.  But we don’t talk about it.  We learn at a young age that we don’t talk about the things that come out of our body – especially poop (and variations of it).  There are some people who are more open about it, like myself.  Others don’t even want to acknowledge that their significant other is capable of taking a crap.     

We ALL have poop stories.  As a baby, my youngest brother decided to take a dump mid-diaper change.  His nickname was Pootsie for the longest time… my sister and I will occasionally call him that just for the sake of embarrassing him.  Myself – I usually can’t poop when I travel.  It’s not that I can’t, but my body can’t.  I am fine taking dumps in public bathrooms as long as no one is in there or it’s not completely silent (courtesy flush anyone?), but I just don’t have any urges to poop.  I once went 5 – yes FIVE – days without a bowel movement.  As I was about to board my plane back home, my intestines started to get the point as I rushed to the bathroom.  Some friends in college once had a roommate that didn’t flush everything once – apparently her poop was shaped like a ball and had a chewed up gum in it.  Gross, even for me. 

So people, don’t be afraid of poop because we all do it.  Be proud of your poop!  Be sure to smile after one of those euphoric poops – you know what I mean, the ones that give you a slight tingly sensation throughout your body once you are done.  If you manage to keep your entire poop in one piece, feel accomplished – it’s rare for that to happen!  Little pebble poops are okay too!  No matter the kind of poop, be happy that you can poop!  Somewhere in the world, there is probably a person that is really constipated and wishing that s/he could just poop it all out.

I could probably write an entire book on poop, and will probably have a few other posts in the future about pooping (e.g. length of time on toilet, wipe back to front or front to back, pooping in public bathrooms, poop streaks in the toilet, pooping your pants or in other odd places, etc – so much to talk about!). 

Just remember these two things:

  1. Everyone poops
  2. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards

Friday, April 23, 2010

Like Whoa!!

Life has been pretty busy this past week… and there will be no signs of slowing down in the next week or so.  On Saturday, my little sissy Cooter Girl came down to visit.  I showed her my small Southern town in all its three bar glory!  The evening ended up with me, CG, PD, and Timo hanging out and cracking a bull whip.  Fo’ realz.  A bull whip!  Typically, I would say a bull whip is an adult non-sexual toy… but us somewhat adults always find a way of making any whip a sexual whip.  No one was harmed during out antics.  haha!

Sunday we played adult – at a polo game!  I have never been to a polo game before, but essentially you park in a field with drinks and food and watching guys on horses knock balls across the field.  very interesting and would totally go see another game.

I am currently in Atlanta for a conference (so exciting and so adult, wouldn’t you think?).  While this is a very adult thing to do, I spend the entire day thinking “Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play” and “I’m a hustla… I’m a I’m a hustla!”  See videos below for the entire song:

Not the most adult song to have in my head while listening to fellow sociologists talking about their research:

Speaker on research – Therefore, it is important that we considered hegemonic masculinity when constructing a new paradigm of…

I think to myself – I agree because I’m a hustla, I’m a I’m a hustla!

That was seriously going through my head. ALL. DAY.  LONG.  Luckily, I have perfectly the smile and nod technique.  While others were thinking “Look at her, paying attention to this boring presentation! How adult of her!”, I had gangsta songs on repeat in my head.  So somewhat adult! 

Oh and in other news, you know how I was blogging about winning shiznit from other blogs… well I found out today that I won 100 custom postcards from Uprinting thanks to Broken Teepee and a $25 giftcard from Creative Custom Card Boxes.  Yo!!!  Not only am I a HUSTLA, but I’m also a WINNA!!! 

WELCOME TO ATLANTA WHERE THE PLAYAZ PLAY!!! 

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Giveaway Galore!

So I will let you in on a dirty, little secret.  Really dirty.  You may need to bathe afterwards.  Most of my adult life, I never thought about my future wedding.  I just wasn’t one of those girls.  However, now that I have found a guy that I am willing to settle for (Joking!  No settling here… If my mom says I can’t do better, then I probably can’t), and we have been dating for over two years now, weddings are all I can think about. 

We aren’t officially engaged yet, but this past fall I have been thinking about the who, what, where, when, why and how of this wedding-to-be.  We both don’t want to spend a butt load of money on it.  We are just about to finish the whole process of buying a house, so the last thing either of us wants is to spend $25,000+ on a wedding.  A wedding is only a day.  A marriage is a lifetime.  Duh!  I am 98% positive that I can put together a nice wedding for no more than $7,000.  Say what??  A WEDDING for only $7k??  Impossible!!!  This mission is possible!  Once the mister officially proposes, I will be setting up an entire blog on the wedding planning business. 

I don’t want to give out all my secrets as to how I will be able to have this dream wedding on the cheap, but I will tell you this much.

BLOG GIVEAWAYS!

I have been scouring wedding blogs for the past 5 months now.  However, only in the past 2 weeks have I realized the number of giveaways that are out there.  There are seriously a ton of them out there.  I know I won’t win everything, but I might as well try!  Think about it, if I were to win this one from the very awesome Broke-Ass Bride, then I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a cheap photographer or having a family or friend do it for me.  Kick ass!!  This weekend, P.Diddy and I will be working on our hopefully-winning entry.  (Even the Diddy is up for wedding talk if the word FREE is involved!  haha)

Other current giveaways:

1) 100 4x6 postcards from Girl with a Ring

2) 100 4x6 postcards from Tigerlily’s Book

3) 250 custom stickers by Digital Room from Mrs. Cox’s Slice O’Heaven

4) 100 custom postcards by UPrinting from Broken Teepee

 

While putting together a wedding can be VERY adult (instead of saying “This is my boyfriend, P. Diddy”, I would have to say “This is my hubby, P. Diddy”… so adult!), I think these contests and giveaways makes is more somewhat adult and more fun! 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond

We close on our house in 45 days!  Can’t wait!  (note: I will write about the house and the home searching process later)  I really wish we were able to close a little sooner than that, but that’s house buying for ya.  I guess the seller of our soon-to-be house is waiting for the seller of their soon-to-be-house to find a soon-to-be-house of their own.  Catch that?  Essentially it’s a big domino effect and we are waiting for the big push. 

Anyway, we are excited to be moving into a house of our own.  No more landlords.  No more fees for having pets.  No more having to hear your upstairs neighbors walking around.  No more lots of stuff associated with renting a place!  Feeling very adult!  However, as most homeowners know, there is a lot more that goes into being an adult owning a home.  Mortgage insurance.  If something breaks, you have to pay to have it fixed.  Property tax.  Maintenance and upkeep of house and yard. So a lot of adult things. 

We had a pretty nice weekend.  We ventured to Home Depot, Lowes, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.  The Diddy (aka Boyfriend; Stinky fart boy) and I wanted to look at paint colors, things we could do with the house, price a few items out.  Every time I think of these stores, the movie Old School always pops in my head.  See clip below.

Funny, right!?! So whenever either the Diddy or I mention these aforementioned businesses, the other always responds with, “I don’t know if I’ll have enough time.”  Cracks us up every time!  Not funny?  Well screw you. 

So here we are, being trying to be all adult with buying a home, and we have to quote Old School.  So classy.  But I love it!

Oh, and if you have never seen the movie, I highly suggest watching it.  This is being Somewhat Adult at its finest! 

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Defining ADULT

Being a sociologist, I have to question what being an adult it.  Race is a social construct.  Age is a social construct.  Religion is a social construct.  (yes, I said it) 

Social construct what?  Well, my friends – a social construct is the development of phenomena relative to social contexts.  Again, what?  Basically, it is the concept that everybody in society agrees to treat a certain aspect a certain way.  If we all think of it to be true, then it becomes our reality.  Below is a video that illustrates social constructionism. 

Anyway, getting back on the topic of being adult, we have to ask What does it mean to be an adult?  How do you define ‘adult’?  Yes, this answer can vary over time and by culture.  But really, WHAT IS AN ADULT!?!?  Why are we told to act like an adult when we don’t even know what that means?? 

Is being adult a biological concept?  One dictionary defines adult as “having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature.”  This makes sense from what many of us consider to be adult.  I still have issues with this though…

Or is being adult a social concept?  In the US, you are an adult at the age of 18.  So when you are 17 years and 363 days old, you aren’t an adult?  Does one day really make that big a difference?  And even when one is 28 years old (such as myself), who says I have to be an adult?  Does being an adult mean living on your own or can you still live with your parents and be an adult? 

This whole concept of adulthood stupifies me.  (Stupifies?  Not really sure if this is a word.)  I don’t know… maybe one day I will understand it more.  In all honesty, I hope I can be 70 years old and still only feel somewhat adult – because not being completely an adult is still pretty cool.  Think cartoons, ice cream trucks, and cooties.  Okay, maybe not the cooties.  In adult world, that can mean something really gross that lives on your no-no parts. 

Until another somewhat adult moment…   

Friday, April 9, 2010

Somewhat of an adult

I started this blog for several reasons. 

  1. I have always wanted to write a blog, but never really knew what to blog about. 
  2. Just started a real adult job August 2009.  Yes, I have had plenty of jobs before (e.g. Dairy Queen slave, nanny, office slave, data analyst, operations analyst), but this is my first job in starting my career.  Very adult if you ask me!
  3. My boyfriend and I are in the process of closing on our first house… exciting! 
  4. After realizing all the things that are going on in my life, I finally figured out what to blog about.  BEING AN ADULT!!

However, there is one glitch in my new blog idea.  I don’t think of myself as an adult.  I don’t feel like an adult.  I certainly don’t act like an adult (all the time).  Case in point, whenever I see the number 69, I have to giggle.  How immature and non-adult is that!!  Seriously! 

So rather than writing about being an adult, I will write about being somewhat of an adult.  Things I do to be more of an adult.  Things I do to be less of an adult.  Who knows where this will go.  Maybe I will realize that I am more adult than I thought. Maybe others will realize than I am less adult than they thought.