Thoughtful Thursday: Decisions Part 2

So last week I wrote about choice and how the brain processes choice. I've been thinking and analyzing choice in my own life ever since.

For those who don't know me, I like rules. Rules make it so there's no analysis to be done and that means my analytical brain can have a little vacation for 3 minutes whilst the rest of me is following the rule.

My stepdad makes fun of me and my mom because we have created these random rules about life that don't seem to make sense. For instance, if you are going to leave a light on in your house it's never a lamp, it's always an overhead light. We prefer to buy Tide...the original...in a powder, we always drink skim milk, and blue Dawn dish soap. But why? The green Palmolive washes dishes too...

I've come to an answer. My mom and I are analyzers and our poor brains are overloaded. I did some research and apparently sometimes when people have to much to analyze they make up rules so that there are somethings they never have to think about. Basically, its a mechanism the brain does to be more efficient. If there's a rule then you don't have to think. The decision has been made for you.

Here's an awesome example from my life:

Let's say I'm at a restaurant. It's after dinner and I think I might like dessert. For effect let's say I'm at Cheesecake Factory and I have 40 options for dessert. How does someone who likes to analyze all the options figure out which one to pick. By playing by the rules. Now I can cross off anything with nuts, caramel, peanut butter, toffee, and cheesecake because I don't like those and I don't care for beige food. Now my 40 options are just down to chocolate cake or ice cream, much easier for me to analyze. :-) Most of the time the rule means no dessert at a restaurant and that's fine, I can now think about my conversation instead of sucking up brain power on dessert analysis. Seems crazy but it works.

I've never stress out about dessert at restaurants...but it took me 20 minutes to pick out a flavor of candles yesterday...

Just imagine how indecisive I'd be if I didn't already have some of these in place. :-)

OHHHH...and Happy Thanksgiving. :-)

(house)Work Wednesday: Thanksgiving Soiree

"Friends are the family we pick for ourselves."

Very true. And there's nothing like spending time with your family for the holidays, but since usually your real family wants to spend this time with you, sometimes you have to make time to celebrate the holidays with your friends.

This past weekend me and my Yankee Manfriend threw a Thanksgiving soiree for our friends. It was our Second Annual Potluck Thanksgiving. Basically, we made the turkey (and I use the term "we" loosely, Y.M. made the turkey but unlike last year at least I went along on the trip to Trader Joe's to pick it out) and everyone signs up to bring something. We then fill in any holes in the "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner.

Like an 20 something couple, we were on a budget and there are some things we didn't want to skimp on, like the turkey, but there are other things that you can most definitely save a lot of money (and cleaning time) while still having a nice presentation thanks to...

(Drum Roll)...

The Dollar Store

I don't know about you but I forget about the Dollar Store until it's time to look for something random for Halloween. And typically when I'm trying to save money I hit up the local Wal-Mart, but I didn't really need, nor do I have the storage space for 100 paper plates even if they are $3.00. The Dollar Store makes it really easy to get "Holiday" specific items while balancing a good price without having to buy in bulk.

Here's a list of the things I got at the Dollar Store for our party of 12 people.

• Plates
• Cups
• Plastic utensils
• Plastic Shot Glasses
• Apple Juice
• Napkins
• Potpourri

Total Cost: $7.00 + tax

And no one knew the difference.

They also have a lot of serving utensils and other items that would be great to take to a party if you're on the "bringing" end of a potluck. This way if you don't get your serving spoon or potholder back it's not a huge deal. Think about it: Your grande skim mocha latte at Starbucks will cost more than you would have spent on the serving spoon, dish, and potholder you brought to the dinner and will be used for about the same amount of time. ;-)

Money Monday: Your Digital Reputation

In this day and age where recruiters for jobs look at your MySpace pages and your VP is on Facebook, you have to make sure you're digital rep is as well taken care of as your regular work reputation if you want to be respected in the real world. This respect could be the difference between a raise or being laid off.

I found this article on MSN.com that might be useful. However I have more advice. (Duh.)

My #1 suggestion: Look at your privacy settings on Facebook.

Not kidding...

I'll wait...

I'm sure you have facebook open on another tab anyway...


Ok good.

Some things you need to look at and my suggestions of who you should access to:
(Anything with a "*" means it's subjective based on the content you put in that medium and therefore gets a "but ONLY if it's appropriate for this group to see" tag.)

What everyone can see:

1. Your name
2. Your friends (Everyone can see this...you never want to cut off networking opportunity)
3. Your school and occupation information
4. Your networks
5. Your hometown
6. Activities*

What your friends of friends can see:

1. Same as above
2. Your blog*
3. Email address
4. Your relationship status
5. Your religion and political views
6. Class list
7. Activities

What only your "friends," the ones you make limited profile...like your coworkers, parents, and friends' parents, can see:

1. Same as above
2. Cell phone number
3. Your blog*
4. Interests* (Beer and dancing on bars...maybe not so much...)

What only your friends can see:

1. Your pictures (You never know who the friends of your friends are...)
2. Your wall (Same as above...)
3. All your random applications (You don't want your coworkers thinking you have too much time on your hands...)
4. Your blog that has your rantings about your life
5. Your notes
6. Your events
7. AIM screen name
8. All that other stuff Facebook has

One more thing: Remember that your profile is a representation of YOU and therefore YOU are responsible for it. Don't feel bad about deleting inappropriate comments on your wall or untagging pictures of yourself that don't display the kind of person you want people to see you as. You never know when Mom, Dad, or the CEO of your company might decide they are going to be "hip" and get on Facebook (like my mom did last weekend...) and you don't want them to see double fisting cheap beer, dancing on a bar, and showing your Britney.

Selfish Sundays: Apologies

There are few things that have more power than a sincere apology.

Even the most prideful of people should be able to apologize sincerely to the ones they really care about; believe me the ones who you have wronged will remember how you've hurt them. They can't help it, it's a survival instinct.

Takeaway:
"An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything." ~Lynn Johnston

Just about anything...as long as you are apologizing for the right thing...

After all "True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook