MySpace

MySpace is like sweeping the nation! I read articles almost every day about the popularity, reach, etc., of MySpace. And i'll admit it, I was hesitant at first. Why do I need MySpace when I have Friendster? But slowly I got sucked in. And there's really no way out.

MySpace is like a better version of Friendster. More ways to interact, the whole MusicSpace area, and a whole lot more people you want to connect, or reconnect with.

Does it really answer any specific consumer need? Probably not. Is it a great way to "waste" time? Hells yeah. Changing up photos, looking up old friends, leaving people messages easier than writing them emails. It's really fun. (I know fun isn't a really compelling way to describe it, but you know what I mean.)

I have already reconnected with a bunch of people from highschool and even a friend from 4th grade who moved away. So in my book, myspace rocks!

Ramdom Things I Like That You May Want To Check Out

So this will be like Oprah's Favorite Things, only they're Samara's Favorite Things!


Shape magazine has this cool sidebar they publish each month on recommended songs you should download for your workout mix. Good stuff...

Seacrets (Ocean City, MD)-- probably the coolest bar ever. Right on the beach, they even bring your drinks to your tube....and they have tables in water. Soooo fun!

Crystal Light On The Go Packets-- all you have to do is pour the exact amount of powder from the pouch into your water bottle...now that's convenience.

Yogurt Burst Cheerios in cherry are delicious as well!

Jaqua Buttercream Frosting lotion. I love smelling like freshly baked cupcakes!

A-HA

Today I had one of those A-Ha lightbulb moments when everything clicks. As always, I was trying to figure out why I date so many Jewish guys. I was talking with a friend when suddenly it dawned on me-- maybe it's not that I like Jewish guys, maybe it's that they like me. Maybe I am the ideal Jewish girl (in Catholic clothing of course).

Pet Peeve #286

When you walk into a room, flick on the light switch and your light bulb burns out. Then you have to maneuver around in the dark to try and replace the bulb. This is even more particularly frustrating when your room has no windows...because no matter what time of day it is, you have no natural light to assist in the replacement process!

Sick Animals

Those of you who know me well, know that I do not like animals or children and I am not afraid to admit it. I steer clear from animals whenever possible.

My mom had a dog when I was really little and had to put it to sleep and never wanted another animal. Now don't get me wrong, I never harmed an animal. In fact, I was the best pet sitter on my block! But I still never have the urge to touch an animal if I am in the park or walking down Park Avenue.

Well in the last few months that all changed. I really enjoyed playing with Erin's kitty and my brother recently got the cutest teacup yorkie ever. (And I swear, I didn't just like him cause he was originally a NYC doggie!)

I also seem to be surrounded by people who want to share doggie stories. And unfortunately, they are not all happy ones. From Erin's first sick kitty to Ana's dog's emergency surgery, it seems like sickness was everywhere. My neighbors were mourning the loss of their golden retriever this fall as well.

And as much as I tried, I could never really understand being so upset over an animal because I never had the experience of bonding too closely with pet. Unfortunately, that all changed today. My mom sent me an email saying that my brother and sister-in-law had to put their dog Yogi to sleep and I am feeling really sad.

Yogi was an interesting dog. They only had him since October...they took him in after a friend had to get rid of him. He wasn't very old and only 4 pounds! And yes many of you would call him ugly. But he was cute ugly. http://www.dustinandkatie.com/gallery/house/TheDog_Yogi/slides/CRW_5257.Yogi.10.23.2005.html And even though he threw up all the time and got tired after doing only one lap around the house and was always cold, he really was the sweetest cutest dog. My mom even invited the dog over to our house on Xmas! And I think I was really close to convincing them to get a dog as well.

So needless to say, I only playedwith this doggie a few times and I am saddened by the loss :-(

2005: A Survey

I was going through old post when I stumbled across my year in review survey from 2004. http://samarasspace.blogspot.com/2005/01/2004-survey.html
Since the timing is right, let's see how 2005 stacked up.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? Actually drove during a road trip-- out of state and in a big car.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really remember making one last year, but according to my blog I said I would spend more time with my grandparents. I was very successful in seeing my mother's parents a lot. I started keeping my car in their garage and saw them once or twice a month when I picked it up.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit? none

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? I'll stick with last year's answer-- a good date!

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? July 27th....the date of my review and promotion.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I'll stick with last year's answer here too-- career advancement.

9. What was your biggest failure? Hmmmm, I hope there weren't any in 2005.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious, but I did fall out of a bus and get banged up when I tripped on a curb.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Tickets to see Hootie in Baltimore...and a shirt that said "Blondes tease, brunettes please"

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? I dunno…

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Ditto from last year....I’d rather not say in such a public forum, lol.

14. Where did most of your money go? NYC rent ;-) (The same as last year)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My summer vacation in Ocean City

16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Collide by Howie Day and Get Right by JLo

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? the same
ii. thinner or fatter? Unfortunately fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Enjoying the outdoors

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Thinking. Sometimes thinking can ruin everything.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? With family at my mom's house

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? I would say I continued to rack up the phone minutes with Potts

22. Did you fall in love in 2005? Only more in love with myself, jk. (Last year's answer was too good to change to "no")

23. What was your favorite TV program? Hands down it was Grey's Anatomy

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Hate is a strong word, but I can say a lot has changed in a year.

25. What was the best book you read? I really didn't do too much reading. Probably The Hookup Handbook.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Natasha Bedingfield

27. What did you want and get? A digital camera

28. What did you want and not get? I gotta think about this

29. What was your favorite film of this year? Little Manhattan...I hope it comes out on DVD

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 24 – Well, on my actual birthday, all i will say is I started off the day by waking up in someone else's bed.... But my actual celebration was at Second Nature with lots of friends. I also did a Coldstone Creamery excursion.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Smart 'n Chic!

32. What kept you sane? Living and loving in the greatest city in the world!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Patrick Dempsey

34. Who was the best new person you met? Too many to name....But getting closer to my Brooklyn Boys has been a blast!

New Year's Eve 2005

I had one of the best New Year's Eves ever. The company was a bit ironic, yet representative of the past year.

I am a firm believer in the overratedness of this supposed holiday. Paying over $100. to go to a bar you can get into for free every other day of the year, is just not my style. But I learned you can have a good time in the most unusual places at the most unexpected times.

I have to admit, I was feeling quite excluded leading up to the "big day". It seemed as though a bunch of my friends made plans and never included me. Then another group of friends made plans that were really not appealing to me.

And just as I had convinced myself that staying home alone was going to be fun, a friend invited me out for a laid back night at a local bar. Although I knew only two people in our group of 5, I don't know if I have ever felt more included and comfortable. I had a blast- enjoyed great conversation with new friends, got a good buzz on and stayed out until they closed the bar at 4am.

So thanks guys, you made it a great night!

4 months later and it's 2006...

So I guess my 100th post was bad luck, since i've only posted once since. But in the spirit of the new year and turning over a new leaf, I am back (and hopefully better than ever!).

The New Year is often a time for reflection and the past week that I have been home on vacation I had the time to reflect on the new year and look towards the future and what's ahead this year.

I'm not going to lie, this year wasn't the greatest. I understand it could have been a lot worse, but my family went through a lot this year. My mom probably said it best right before Christmas dinner.

My mom in particular had a rough year...so it was very refreshing to see her back to her enthusiastic self this holiday season. (She loves the holidays and it brings out the best in her). My family isn't very religious but the last few years we've begun the tradition of saying something before we eat a holiday dinner. The usual is a little prayer that my grandpa absolutely loves:

Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the world so sweet.
Thank you for the birds that sing.
Thank you God for everything.

So after we went around the table and said a line each, my mom grabbed the hands of the people sitting next to her and announced that this was the best Christmas ever because we were all together. She said "This was the first year that we came the closest to losing the ones we love most."

Bringing tears to everyone's eyes, she was right. Between my grandparents car accident in June and my dad's 3+ week hospital stay and surgery, it was a draining year. Thankfully, the injured and sick are continuing to recover and everyone's spirits are on the rise.

So in 2006, my biggest wish is good health for the people I care about most.

Happy New Year Everyone!