Love is a disease?

A conversation between two members of society in Anna Karenina:

"But by a marriage of convenience we mean marriage in which both parties
have already sown their wild oats. It's like scarlet fever. One has to go
through it."

"Then we must learn how to inoculate people against love as they are against
smallpox."

I've heard love compared to many things including pie, but never before to deadly diseases. While I agree that love makes life complicated, I'm not sure I'd be in support of irradicating it. It makes life more interesting and at times more fun.

Also, in the book, this discussion began when the were watching a woman who was a little too intimate with a man who wasn't her husband, and the belief was she was in love with him (which apparently she was). I guess back then being in love with someone else would be the only reason a woman would cheat on her husband. Now, since cheating is so prevalent, I think love is more likely to prevent cheating than encourage it.

About another character:

"Karenin was not jealous. Jealousy, in his opinion, was an insult
to one's wife, and one should have confidence in one's wife. "

Well that would explain why I don't act like a jealous bitch-I generally trusts my boyfriends. I'm pretty sure I've said to a bf that was paranoid about me hanging out with other guys, "don't you trust me?"

Random Facts

I stole this from Finn

Birth date: 09 March 1984
Location: Outside Philly PA
Height: 5'3"
Eye color: Brown
Hair color: Dark Brown
What does your name mean: Trouble? (I know a lot of Jackies and most of them are trouble)
High school graduation year: 2002
Favorite relatives: When my whole family gets together, it's pretty entertaining
Summer memory: Truck Pool
Favorite TV shows: Californication, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy
What's on your mousepad: Who uses mouse pads anymore?
In the car- ac or windows: Windows, unless there's people in the car and we're talking (or it's the dead of winter, when I use the heat)
Do you believe in yourself: Sure
Favorite game: Jeopardy, Monopoly
Favorite drink: Iced Tea
Alcoholic drink: Jack & Ginger, Chocolate Martini
Favorite food: Lasagna
Favorite colors: Black and Red
Favorite cigarettes: ummm...none?
Favorite sounds: Music
Favorite smell: My house while baking
Worst feeling in the World: F-ing up something important
Best feeling in the World: Orgasms? But camaraderie is a good one too
Favorite thing to do on a weekend: Sleep in and then just relax with the roomie
Favorite soundtrack: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: On earth
First thought in the morning: UGGG
Do you get motion sickness: Sometimes- I definitely can't read in the car
Roller coasters- deadly or exciting: Exciting
How many rings before you answer the phone: Depends who's calling/how long it takes me to answer
Future son names: not Jason
Future daughter names: Samantha, Abigail
Are you a good friend: I like to think so
Chocolate or Vanilla cake: Chocolate
What do you drive: Olds Alero
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: Yes
Thunderstorms cool or scary: Annoying
If you could meet one person in the World, who would it be: Bill Clinton
What is your zodiac sign: Pisces
What do you wear to bed: PJ's
Do you eat stems of broccoli: Not if I can avoid it
If you could have any occupation when you get older, what would it be: Trophy Wife
If you could dye your hair one color, what would it be: Why can't I?
If you could have a tattoo, what and where would it be: Something Phi Sigma Pi related in a place I could cover.
Favorite brand of gum: Orbit-I think it's made by Wrigley's
What is your favorite quote: "More is lost from indecision than wrong decision"
Have you ever been in love: Yea
What's on your walls in your room: Drawing by Beck, Temple banner, PSP Shingle, award and paddle
Is the glass half-empty or half-full: Depends what I'm drinking-if it's Champagne-half empty
Pick a song that describes yourself or that you can relate to: Crazy Bitch
Which do you prefer- Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese Doritos: Usually Cool Ranch
Favorite flavor Snapple: Peach Iced Tea
Which one, Coke or Pepsi: Coke
Which kind of milk is your favorite: I don't really drink milk, but my parents always bought 2%.
If you were to kill someone, which method would you use?: Stoning seems like good punishment
Are you a righty, lefty, or ambidextrous: Righty
Do you type with your fingers on the right keys: Yep
When you meet a person of the opposite sex, you notice their: Body[I'm a human, I admit it!]
What kind of shoe would you be if you had an option: A red stiletto
What's under your bed: Nothing
What's the best number in the world: 17
What is your dream car: a Ferrari
Nickname: Jackie P.
Bacon Bits Or croutons: Croutons
Favorite Salad Dressing: It really depends on my mood
Do you drink: yea
What type of Shampoo/Conditioner: Garnier Fructis
Have you ever been skinny dipping: Yes
Do you make fun of people: Yep
Have you ever been convicted of a crime: No
One pillow or two: Two
Pets: Sprite the cat, and hermit crabs
Favorite Movies: History of the World Part I, Cruel Intentions, Rocky Horror Picture Show
Favorite type of music: not jazz
Hobbies: Reading, hanging out, watching tv
Word or Phrase you overuse: interesting
Toothpaste: Crest with Scope (Drew got me hooked on it years ago-damn him)
Piercing or tattoos: 6 piercings
Do you get along with your parents: For the most part
Favorite beer: St. Paulie Girl, Yuengling, Miller Lite
Favorite song at the moment: 12 Days of Christmas
Favorite subject in school: Science
Least favorite subject in school: English, Gym, Core Skills
Most humiliating moment: I don't know
Craziest or Silliest Person You Know: April
Favorite Holiday: 4th of July

Nestle vs. Swiss Miss

I have hot chocolate every morning at work, which is what led to this entry. Growing up my mom always made me Nestle Carnation Hot Chocolate and I loved it. I don't really go to grocery stores, so I've had to get what the dollar store/Target sells- Swiss Miss.

Based on the names, it would seem that both types are Swiss (Nestle is a Swiss company), so both should be good. But I've recently realized that I prefer the Nestle. Not just because of taste, but because the Swiss Miss must continually be stirred or it will separate and leave a pile of chocolate at the bottom of the cup. Once Nestle is mixed, it stays mixed.

I guess I have to decide if it's worth going to the grocery store and paying a little more for the superior beverage.

Random facts:

• Swiss Miss is made by ConAgra Foods, which also owns Chef Boyardee
• Nestle also owns a lot of different brands

Office Orgies

I heard on the news that a woman was fired for reported an orgy in one of the banquet room of a hilton. Click here for the story.

I've heard of office parties, but never office sex parties. This just seems like a terrible idea to me. Not just because the risk of getting caught. Even in private with all hot, single, and disease-free co-wokers, it seems like a bad idea. How do you look at them the next day? And there's bound to someone who gets all weird about it after. There might even be someone who falls in love with another person (some people fall in love after sex-I can't explain it).

Even dating/fucking just one co-worker can bad idea (doesn't anybody watch tv: House, Greys, probably 50 other shows). I've dated co-workers, but a) I know I could handle it (both the dating and the probable break-up) and b) I was fairly certian he could too. Luckily, I was correct. More on this topic later.

11 Months

Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since I've updated this. There's probably no one that still checks it, but oh well.

Here's the update on my life:

• I finally got hired as a full-time employee.
• April and I bought a house together. It's in Drexel Hill, not far from our parents. I thought it would suck to be so close to them, but it's actually worked out pretty well. It's convenient for grabbing stuff and for free dinner :)
• I went to Vegas for the first time (for Alumni Convention) and actually won some money-Thanks Finn!
• I went to Nashville (for Grand Chapter/Nat'l Convention) where I did karaoke with about 50 brothers or more-it was awesome! There was also this contest that I entered ;)
• April and I hosted our first party for Halloween-it was a lot of fun.

Apparently, not that much happened in year. Or at least not that much that was important.

2007 in Review

I stole this from Drew two years ago:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I drove a stick shift.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Yes and yes

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but someone close to me became a grandmother.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, I don't think so.

5. What countries did you visit?
None :(

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A real job with benefits (which I should have by the end of the month), and my own place

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 12 - Beck's wedding

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping my resolution

9. What was your biggest failure?
Still living with my parents and being not fun.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
This isn't serious but, I twisted my ankle badly, then I re-injured it while drunk a month later.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Lasik surgery and more recently, my red shoes.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
No clue

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The retard celebrities like the Spears girls

14. Where did most of your money go?
A lot went towards bills and student loans

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Beck's wedding

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
I don't think there is one

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or Sadder? Happier
b) Thinner or Fatter? I have no clue, probably about the same
c) Richer or Poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I exchanged gifts with the stedmans and then my grandfather came over for our tradition of lasagna.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
No, but I did get a bf

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, October Road

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, but dislike

24. What was the best book you read?
One of the Kathy Reichs books.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Guitar Hero

26. What did you want and get?
My bf

27. What did you want and not get?
A real job, my own apartment

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ratatuille and Enchanted were good

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My friends made me a candle-lit dinner and a 3-tier cake that said "Happy Birthday Susan." I froze the top layer to eat this year.

30.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having my own place

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Causal--jeans and a cute shirt with a hoodie or sweater; Work--business casual

32. What kept you sane?
Sane? If anything, the girls

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't think I liked real people.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I don't care about politics.

35. Who did you miss?
Liz while she was in CA

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Dave - Technically, I met him in 2006, but i didn't get to know him until 2007.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Do want you want while you're young, because you can't go back.