2011: Year of the Cherdometer
I’m feeling pretty good this morning. First off, it’s just a little past 9am and I have already showered, gone outside (braving the brisk 35 degree weather for a newspaper), and even wrote this blog post. My Mom is impressed. My lackluster night at home means that I’m hangover free and I’ve already started on the right path towards my resolutions in the area of finances.
Speaking of resolutions, even though this is possibly the cliched day to make resolutions, I will do so anyways. I tend to like to start big changes on “nice” numbers (and let’s face it: 1/1/11 is about as cool as it get), and it’s easier to remember milestones. However, unlike so many people’s resolutions who get broken I have a secret weapon of accountability up my sleeve:
Obama has the Obameter, therefore Cherrie (I) will have a Cherdometer!!
This way, even though (like Obama’s presidency) there might not seem like much is getting accomplished, I can mark the numerous small milestones as they occur and by the end of the year, bask in the snowballing aggregate of accomplishment.
I must admit. I haven’t gone into a New Year feeling this optimistic in a long time. In fact, the last time I can clearly remember was in 2005 when I was a senior in high school. With this feeling of good sentiment, I resolve to resolve reasonably and practically. And keep you informed of my progress on May 1, 2011 and October 1, 2011. Why these days? These both fall on weekends so I can ensure I’ll have time to write these posts.
Ok, here we go, Cherdometer 2011 is in full effect. Starting NOW:
Vanity
I resolve to lose 15 pounds by summer (June 22) and be a size 6 by the end of year (Dec 31). This way no “booty meat” is sacrificed (but it will be super toned), and I won’t have the whole big head small body paradox (*coughs* Victoria Beckham).
I resolve to reduce meats and dairy in my diet. Lately, I just haven’t had a taste for meat. This doesn’t mean I haven’t eaten meat nor does it mean this is a declaration of vegetarianism or veganism. It’s just saying I want to eat healthier, less processed food. Furthermore dairy is my kryptonite (especially cheese). I just feel its unhealthy to indulge of too much of anything, and dairy is that area of indulgence I need to cut back on the most.
I resolve to get my health in order. Thank you Obama for letting me keep my parent’s health insurance. It is time for a new pair of glasses. I have had these since frosh year of high school and it shows! There’s no point in looking young on the surface if internally you’re falling apart. I want to take care of the body God has given to me with the means He has provided on earth, plain and simple.
I resolve to look amazing and dress cleverly. One time when I was on a plane going to Cali, the woman next to me handed me a magazine that I cannot remember the name for the life of me. The take home message is that it had an article about the basics you need in your closet to always look exceptional. Promise to post the list as soon as I find it on my computer, but in a nutshell, it was like keep a lot of basic tops while using accessories and bold pieces for embellishment. My wallet can get with that. Also I finally realized that as I approach the half point of my 20s (i’ll be 24 this year), I need to maintain my youthful appearance (sometimes people think I’m 16). This way, but the time I’m 40, I’ll look like I’m 28, tops lol. This probably means a lot of water, sparingly using high caliber makeup, and cold cream (I listen to what older women who actually have to say about what their secret to looking youthful is and its ALWAYS this stuff).
Personal
I resolve to be less of a “hater”. Not saying that I’m an outright hater, but I am sharply critical at times, which would be ok except that I let those sentiments slip out of my mouth. Honesty and tact don’t have to be two separate entities. Therefore I resolve to unite the two and insert more compassion and understanding into the mix before I make my final call.
I resolve to be a person of my word. I really want to be a person of my word and not let people down based upon actions within my control in 2011 and beyond. Quite frankly this just means saying a decisive “no” instead of an ambiguous maybe. I will start saying flat out no your FB event, no more maybe buttons. This is a German courtesy that I want to bring back to the states.
I resolve to minimize the nagging. Ok I admit it. I’m a nagger. Especially towards those closest to me. The source of nagging is composed of one part good intention paired with 2 parts excitement—a dangerous combo.
I resolve to give as much attention to happiness as I do towards pain. A bad day is inevitable. But for me, I tended to wallow in bad days so deeply that they almost became comforting. Furthermore I tend to disconnect from happy moments and get bored in those moments, letting them slip by. I can (literally) spend hours wishing what could be instead making the best of what reality is. Therefore, this year I plan to reallocate equal time in reflection towards happiness instead of letting sadness have an unfair advantage towards my emotions. Meditation anyone?
I resolve to connect with God on a more spiritual basis. Let’s face it. I’m not that religious. I not that Bible-thumpin’, gospel track blasting, put on airs for my religion type of person. To my grandmother, this has made me practically an atheist in some ways (no she hasn’t ever called me that, but yes honestly she has treated me that way—from my perspective, just to clarify). However, I know God exists (read my blog for testimony) and that He does powerful things for ordinary people like myself. One thing I miss about Berlin the most is my church. It was the first time ever I enjoyed going, because it was the first time I ever experienced unadulterated fellowship, love, joy, community, praise—the list continues. My best bet towards Christianity is to reconnect with God on a spiritual basis—learning more about Him, fellowshipping with others in my home, meditating in prayer, and seeing what grows from that.
Finances
I resolve to be financially independent from my parents and family by my birthday (March 22). This doesn’t mean I won’t be hitting them up for frivolous cash ocassionally. It just means I won’t need to do it to make things like oh, say RENT or LOANS.
I resolve to control my shopping impulses by only using my credit card as a credit building debit card in that it will only be used when I have the real world funds to pay it off in FULL each month, and also pay off my credit card by May 2011. This will be a departure from my current ways which is like sugardaddy funds from a loan shark—I always lose. And what’s worse, I’m not the portrait of frivolity, I spend only on travel and gas. I suppose I let Sugardaddy Loan Shark pay for my more expensive tastes. But no more! Yesterday, I received a $225 reward check. This sounds incredible on the surface. But lets crunch some (simplified) numbers here and see what Sugardaddy LS really has done for me:
- $225 in cash back= 22,500 points
- 1 point = $1 paid on the credit card balance
- I have had my card since October 2005
- Summary: In 5 years, I have paid ~$25,000 (I didn’t have quite enough funds to get the full $250 card so I have a few points left over) in credit card expenditures which is roughly $5,000/yr. I’ve spent about $350 in interest in 2010, so that means I’ve probably spent at least $2,000 in interest in the lifetime of the card, depending on the interest (probably more— one day I will sit down and precisely calculate this). The program fee for the card is about $20/yr (averaged, it has been lowered and waived a few times).
Sweet and simple, this “reward” check of $225 cost me at least $2500—NOT worth it.
However, since I pay my bills on time and large swaths of it, I do have exceptional credit (like AmEx wants me credit—and not just the entry level card). This is why I can’t demonize Sugardaddy LS completely (this might be the only sugar though) and resolve to use my credit card as a debit card.
Bonus
Of course, I resolve to continue to Frolic Freely. Which means more exciting blog posts covering all of my post college life scenarios. God willing, na klar!
Hmm, 12 resolutions. One per month. Cherdometer activated. Let’s do this!
eom, Cherrie :D
3 Lessons Learned from 2010
It’s hard to resolve to do anything in the future if you haven’t learned anything from your past—or at least that’s my take. This year was quite positive for me. I took great risks, forgave realistically, and of course, frolicked freely.
3. Take Risks: I spent 6 months abroad in a country I had absolutely NO prior language skills in (ja Deutschland!), graduated with BOTH a masters and bachelors from an elite university, and signed a lease to my first (fabulous) apartment (well once I get some furniture)—without securing a job 100%. Plenty would call this foolish. I think this is a test of my faith. So far impossible doors keep unlocking before me like I have the master key (more like the Master’s key, if you catch my drift), so to say I feel excited about 2011 is an understatement to say the least.
2. Forgiving realistically: If I’m Carrie, we can call him Mr. Big (mind you Big from season one when he was at his hottest/dreamiest on SATC). A missed call from Big congratulating me on my academic success (after 2 years of silence) ended up receiving the snarkiest/snippy/downright evil (text) response ever. An in-person “closure session” where I had planned to “let him have it” and then some transformed into a movie date (TS3 was incredible, btw). I don’t want y’all to get the wrong impression, but by then it was just too late. The raw emotion had played in my head so many times by that point that aloud my inner rant just sounded plain awkward aloud. Summer gave me time to focus on myself—without him in the picture. Best idea ever. By fall, I was back at home, and he was back in my life—helping me with any harebrain DIY project I attempted to tackle. And now I have my friend back. Not quite sure if we will end up like Carrie and Big, but I’m fine with whatever play out. In short, it is increasingly difficult— if not impossible— to play the bitter black woman role towards my Big when he has been a motive free gentleman, aka a friend. I’d just feel silly.
1. Frolic Freely: Well that’s what this blog has been all about. I’m happiest when I’m just out there, doing stuff. I love to travel. And in real life, I love to be dragged out of my seemingly conservative shell by friends I love. Let’s take *reasonable-er* risks in 2011. Preferably not in my car though because I’m still reeling from some of the stains of 2010 (really, who eats hot sauce in the back seat. I hate you).
Happy New Years, y’all! Be blessed.
eom, Cherrie *<:D
I just LOVE contemporary art :) Snippet of my day at the Dallas Museum of Art!
Hubris, Kanye Style
Normally I’m not a fan of using my blog to make social commentary on pop culture but this is an epic example of hubris.
I shall be making my own metaphorical video representation of my life that confirms my generation’s self absorption tendencies by spring break. It will contain 8 explosions. And glitter.
Take that Kanye.
eom, Cherrie :P
The Excel Sheet Diaries: Why hire a Sociology major?
Simply put, sociology is the major of common sense. Yes, I’ll acquiesce the discipline’s tendency to answer many captain obvious esque questions, but it does so with empirical data (you know those numbers and graphs economists/businessfolk like to see before investing their money into new endeavors). More often than not, we even get to disprove everyday assumptions.
Case in point: Google Wave
I read Techcrunch/Mashable/CNET news religiously, and was rather shocked when I saw the news and subsequent criticism that followed speculating the reasons behind its demise. I love Google, but they have this rather annoying tendency to want to employ “how” people almost exclusively—you know those (techie) people who know how to code and engineer their asses off and create amazing products like Google Voice, Talk, and Wave but don’t know how to push those less obviously useful products beyond their tech cohort. And yes, I said Wave: the program that they are effectively donating back to their developer cohort without really understanding what went wrong. Tech media concluded that it simply was an unnecessary product that had too steep of a learning curve. Wrong and wrong.
So here I offer a quick sociological interpretation of why Google Wave failed.
An unnecessary product? Pish posh! (cool people don’t say that) Wave is beyond necessary with just two features that no one else offers for free
- Oversized uploads Need to upload a huge pdf to share with coworkers? Wave can do that. Try going beyond the file size limits of your emails and you get an evil message or have to zip which can be its own hassles. Wave looked like a little desktop screen.
- Collaborative workplace This is where Google’s advertising failed the most. Yes Microsoft OneNote has this exact same feature (in a cuter colorful interface), but since not everyone has a PC there were immediate limitations (like OneNote not being offered as a part of the Mac MS Office suite? You bitch). This was a FREE space (trust me, I have applied to some jobs that charge you heartily for this same feature) where everyone and their mama and their dog could collaborate and work on projects in real time on the same screen—and it WORKED most of the time. I have done entire Japanese projects using this method. It was practically flawless (well until it had a few bug issues reading some of the hiragana, but it was super beta back then). Did it have all of the features that MS Word has? Hell no, but it didn’t need to. It solved the problem of working in a shared space across platforms for free. And it recorded all keystrokes (cause there’s always that one *coughs* Jabari who clumsily erases everything). And Google said this, but they didn’t give ANY tangible examples that potential users could relate to.
Quite frankly, all the other bells and whistles were useless for the first incarnation of this product. We should have had the option to make our Gmail address our wave address and the ability to forward a “finished” wave as an email to outside users instead of forcing them to join in (well they did eventually do this, but it was too little too late).
This is how sociology interprets failure. We don’t revel in it. We just extract the facts and offer solutions. Like I said earlier, sociology is the major of common sense. I would hope its pretty clear why a company might want to build a diverse team with a major that emphasizes interdisciplinary solutions to everyday problems. And like Voltaire said even earlier somewhere in the annals of history:
Common sense is not so common
eom, Cherrie :)
